Strengthening of plain and reinforced concrete plates using fiber reinforced polymer- computational approach

Formation of cracks in concrete is becoming a major threat in reducing the service life of a structure. Apart from the design standards for limit state of collapse it is also essential to analyze a structure for crack initiation and propagation. Modulus of Elasticity and Poisson’s ratio of a material also play a crucial role in the release of energy during crack propagation. So, it is essential to analyze the structure considering the fracture behavior during crack propagation. The present work deals with the strengthening of plain and reinforced concrete plate subjected to fracture using Fiber Reinforced Polymer. A three-dimensional finite element analysis is carried out using ANSYS for obtaining the strain energy release rates for different types of concrete based on their Modulus of Elasticity and Poisson’s ratio. Results obtained were in good agreement in arresting the crack growth when fibers are oriented at an angle of 450 in the plate.