An Efficient Method for Optimizing HPC-FRP Retrofit Systems of Flexural Strengthened One-Way Continuous Slabs Based...

Area of Science:

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) and high-performance concrete (HPC) are effective for retrofitting reinforced concrete (RC) slabs.
• Challenges exist in applying FRP to the underside of RC slabs.
• Continuous slabs retrofitted with FRP-HPC systems may exhibit brittle failure due to exceeding shear strength.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a design method for optimizing material strength in FRP-HPC retrofitted continuous RC slabs.
• To induce a ductile failure mode in strengthened continuous RC slabs.
• To improve the serviceability and mechanical performance of retrofitted slabs.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel design methodology for FRP-HPC retrofit systems.
• Optimization of material strength and failure mode induction.
• Case study analysis of a continuous RC slab retrofitted with various FRP-HPC systems.

Main Results:

• The proposed design method effectively strengthens continuous RC slabs.
• Significant material reduction (38% carbon fiber-reinforced polymers - CFRP) had minimal impact on the serviceability limit state load.
• Reducing CFRP by 20% and HPC by 25% resulted in only a 9% decrease in design factored load and a 13% decrease in ultimate failure load.

Conclusions:

• The proposed design method optimizes FRP-HPC retrofit systems for continuous RC slabs.
• Ductile failure can be reliably induced, enhancing structural safety.
• Material optimization is achievable without substantial compromise to load-bearing capacity and serviceability.