Finite Element Modeling of RC Beams Strengthened in Flexure with Prestressed NSM CFRP Strips

This paper presents the results from Finite Element Modeling (FEM) of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened in flexure with prestressed Near-Surface Mounted (NSM) Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) strips. A total of four large-scale (5.15 m long) RC beams tested at University of Calgary are modeled with ANSYS prop-am. The beams are simply supported with rectangular cross section strengthened with CFRP strips, mounted in one groove in the concrete on the tension side of the beams, using various prestressing levels (0%, 20%, 40% and 60% of the ultimate tensile strength of the CFRP strip). The beams were tested under four-point bending. Comparison between numerical and experimental results shows a good correlation in terms of load-deflection curve at mid-span, strain profile along the CFRP strip at cracking, yielding and ultimate loads, and type of failure mode.