Numerical Investigation of Impact Loads on RC Beams

Abstract

Reinforced concrete (rc) beams are significant elements which are designed to resist shear, bending and torsional forces. However, sudden impact loads whose effects may reach very high values in a short span of time are ignored in the design phase. So, rc beams with insufficient stirrups exhibit reduced shear capacity, making them vulnerable to impact loads, which generate high strain rates and rapid stress distribution. This study aims to investigate the impact effect on rc beams having two different stirrup configurations. As, carbon fibre reinforced polymer (cfrp) has been widely used to strengthen the structural elements in recent years, rc beams are strengthened by cfrp strips under impact loading. Non-linear incremental dynamic analysis is performed by Abaqus finite elements analysis software. Acceleration, displacement and impact load values are obtained for the first drop of the loading hammer from the software. These values are exhibited by time dependent graphs. In addition, fracture patterns of the rc beams are visually presented. The analysis outputs are evaluated, and suggestions are proposed in the end.