title: Strut deformation in CFRP-strengthened reinforced concrete deep beams.
abstract: Strut-and-tie model (STM) method evolved as one of the most useful designs for shear critical structures and discontinuity regions (D-regions). It provides widespread applications in the design of deep beams as recommended by many codes. The estimation of bottle-shaped strut dimensions, as a main constituent of STM, is essential in design calculations. The application of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) as lightweight material with high tensile strength for strengthening D-regions is currently on the increase. However, the CFRP-strengthening of deep beam complicates the dimensions estimation of bottle-shaped strut. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the effect of CFRP-strengthening on the deformation of RC strut in the design of deep beams. Two groups of specimens comprising six unstrengthened and six CFRP-strengthened RC deep beams with the shear span to the effective depth ratios (a/d) of 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, and 2.00 were constructed in this research. These beams were tested under four-point bending configuration. The deformation of struts was experimentally evaluated using the values of strain along and perpendicular to the strut centreline. The evaluation was made by the comparisons between unstrengthened and CFRP-strengthened struts regarding the widening and shortening. The key variables were a/d ratio and applied load level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panjehpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hwa Kian
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.affiliation: DURA Technology Sdn Bhd, 31200 Chemor, Perak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yen Lei
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Voo
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000032:analysis*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D033081:Shear Strength; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D011108:Polymers; D002244:Carbon