Proceedings of the 11th WSEAS International Conference on Sustainability in Science Engineering

Strengthening of RC slabs with cut-out openings using FRP composite materials preliminary aspects of research program
FLORUT SORIN-CODRUT*, STOIAN VALERIU** *,**Department of Civil Engineering Politehnica University of Timisoara 2nd T. Lalescu, Timisoara, 300223 ROMANIA codrut.florut@ct.upt.ro, valeriu.stoian@ct.upt.ro
Abstract: - This paper presents some preliminary aspects regarding a research program that is in progress at the Politehnica University of Timisoara. The program deals with FRP composite based solutions for strengthening of reinforced concrete slabs with cut-out openings. Theoretical and experimental researches have been performed in order to determine the effectiveness of these strengthening solutions in the particular case of cut-outs created in the corners and on the edges of the slabs. The experimental program involves tests on four large scale elements. The first element will be a full slab and will serve as reference, while in each of the other three elements a different shape of cut-out will be created. A series of analytical and numerical calculations have been performed in order to study the behavior of the slabs in elastic and post elastic range, and to design the strengthening proposals. Key-Words: - reinforced concrete, slab, cut-out, opening, strengthening, FRP

1 Introduction
Nowadays, building engineering considers more and more the composite materials, especially the Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP). The composite materials properties have made their use to prove a real success in a series of applications from local strengthening to highly complex works. The FRP composites are light, very highly resistant, corrosion proof and nonmagnetic. The basic principles in using FRP are grounded on the principles of using steel strengthening bars in reinforced concrete building structures, but with some changes made, in order to consider the composites` physicmechanical characteristics. Preferring composites in some applications instead of traditional steel or reinforced concrete based strengthening solutions is grounded on many reasons. The composites` very high corrosion resistance along with the short amount of needed construction time is probably the most important of all. One of the experimental programs that are in progress at the Politehnica University of Timisoara concerns the study of strengthening solutions that involve the use of FRP for reinforced concrete slabs with cut-outs. In many situations, openings are needed in slabs, in places that were not considered during the structural design of a building. This need emerges mostly due to a series of changes in functionality. There is also the case in which some openings were considered in the design process but due to changes in functionality or in destination, the loads to which the slabs are subjected become much higher. In either one of these previously mentioned

situations, the slabs overall behavior becomes deficient, both as stiffness and strength. The area in which these effects are of most importance is the area around the cutout, where stresses are highly concentrated. Any situation from the two previously mentioned, does not only lead to alteration of stiffness and strength but also to an important change in the overall failure mode, leading to new and unexpected ones.

2 Similar studies performed previously worldwide

The interest in finding new solutions for strengthening reinforced concrete slabs using FRP composites was quite important for a series of researchers, experimental and theoretical programs being developed all around the world. Studies were made on one-way and two-way slabs with or without cut-out openings. Most of the researches on the reinforced concrete slabs strengthening were made on one-way ones. In some of those studies, the reinforced concrete slabs conduct was very similar to that of beams. The usual strengthening method presumes the disposal of the lamellas or sheets bonded on the tensioned side using resins. The sheets are mounted parallel to the long edge of the slabs, the same way as flexural strengthening of beams. There is also the possibility to prestress the sheets, complementarily to the simple procedure of bonding them. The main advantage of using the prestressed sheets consists of delaying the formation and propagation of cracks.

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Proceedings of the 11th WSEAS International Conference on Sustainability in Science Engineering

Generally speaking, the two-way reinforced concrete slabs are elements subjected to flexure with irrelevant shear effect. That is why they are susceptible rather to flexural than shear failure. This particularity makes the use of composite materials in two-way reinforced concrete slabs strengthening to be considered as an optimal solution. In addition to the important increase in serviceability and flexural capacity, using of FRP strengthening methods is justified by its unlaborious appliance. The reserve in using of FRP materials in strengthening of flexural structural members is the brittleness of such materials that can cause a decrease in their stiffness. The strengthening method, same as oneway reinforced concrete slabs, presumes the disposal of the lamellas or textures bonded on the tensioned side by using resins. In two way reinforced concrete slabs, there is off course a difference, the composite material being mounted parallel to both length and width of the slabs. This method increases the capacity in both directions of the element. For slabs with cut-out openings strengthened using FRP, the available research is not as extended, only several research programs being reported in literature, the work conducted by Tan & Zhao [16] and Vasquez & Karbhari [17], Enochsson [7] or Smith [14] being of high importance. The solution applied by all of the researches consisted in laying up CFRP or GFRP strips or sheets of fabrics around the cut-out and bonding them to the concrete surface using epoxy based resins on the tensioned side. Different configurations for the lay-out of the strengthening materials were used, the most common being the one in which the material is placed parallel to the edges of the cut-out.

In all of the previous research programs, the cut-outs were created in the center of the tested slabs and none of the programs dealt with circular cut-outs. Considering these two main aspects, the research program conducted at the Politehnica University of Timisoara is innovative, covering a research area that has not yet been approached.

3 Experimental elements
The experimental program consists in testing four reinforced concrete slabs up to failure. The elements are large scale ones, having dimensions of 2750x3950x120 mm. The first element will be a full slab and will serve as reference, while in each of the other three elements a different shape of cut-out will be created. The purpose of the program is to design strengthening solutions that will restore the stiffness and strength for the elements with cut-out up to the level of the full slab. The first element will be a full slab that will be tested unstrengthened and will serve as reference, being named RCS-FS-01. The second element will have a large rectangular cut-out with dimensions of 1060x2750 mm, being created on one of the short edges of the slab. This slab was named RCS-RLC-01. In the third element a smaller cut-out will be sawn, having dimensions of 1060x1540 mm and being created at one corner of the slab, with the larger dimension oriented parallel with the longer edges. This slab was named RCS-RSC-01. The fourth element will have a circular cut-out opening with the diameter of 1280 mm and it will also be placed at one of the corners of the slab. The fourth slab was named RCS-CC-01. The slabs were cast using C30/37 concrete and were reinforced with steel wire meshes at the inferior side (4 mm in diameter placed at every 100 mm) and with steel rebar at the superior one (6 mm and 10 mm bars). The inferior reinforcement was laid on the entire surface of the slab, while the superior one was placed only along the edges. Since the reproduced situations involved simple supported slabs, the superior reinforcement was designed mainly due to constructive reasons. The configuration of the reinforcement was designed in order to simulate real situations that exist in a lot of buildings erected in Romania from large precast reinforced concrete panels. A statistical study was previously conducted in order to determine which type of elements were used on a larger scale, and then the ones that would be suited in real situations for inserting cut-outs were chosen. Several papers that refer to large panels precast structures were studied, including some that deal with the behavior of panels with cut-outs subjected to inplane loads [4], [5], [6], [13]. In Fig. 2 the geometry, position and size of inferior reinforcement is presented for the full slab, the reinforcement being identical for the

Fig.1. Some of the configurations used by Tan & Zhao

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Proceedings of the 11th WSEAS International Conference on Sustainability in Science Engineering

other three slabs, off course with the exception of the cut-outs, where reinforcement is missing. In Fig. 3 the geometry of the three elements in which cut-outs have been created are presented.

4 Loading and testing strategy

The loading and testing strategy was considered in such a manner so it would be in accordance with the real situation of the slabs. Taking this into account, the slabs would have to be simply supported on all of the four horizontal edges and loaded gravitationally. In order to match the loads considered for the design, the slabs should be subjected to uniformly distributed loads. The applied loads, even if they are not uniformly distributed on the entire surface of the slab, they try to simulate as much as possible this kind of action. Using this system, the inferior side becomes the tensioned one, the steel wire mesh reinforcement becoming the tensioned reinforcement. The existence of the superior reinforcement can be neglected in analytical and numerical models, since its presence does not influence in a major way the overall behavior and capacity of the slab. Several recommended test procedures and loading strategies were studied in order to determine the most appropriate one [2], [3]. In order to properly investigate and observe the cracks distribution and propagation on the inferior side, the slabs will have to be mounted at a certain height above the floor of the laboratory. A series of supporting elements were created from reinforced concrete beams and brick masonry. On top of these elements a steel beam will be mounted. Each edge of the experimental elements will rest on the steel beam on a width of 100 mm. The test setup can be observed in Fig. 4.

Fig. 2. Geometry and inferior reinforcement of full slab

Fig. 4. Configuration of the test setup Fig. 3. Geometry of the three slabs with cut-outs

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Proceedings of the 11th WSEAS International Conference on Sustainability in Science Engineering

5 Analytic design of FRP strengthening system

The FRP strengthening material will be placed around the cut-out on the tensioned side of the element. For this particular experimental program, the tensioned side is the inferior one. The amount of FRP that will be placed around the cut-out is to be determined analytically by equalizing the traction force that would have been undertook by the steel reinforcement eliminated by creating the cut-out, and the traction force that will be undertook by the FRP.

The above calculated area is needed around the cutout, the length of the CFRP outside the cut-out being designed so that it will provide the necessary anchorage length. No other special anchorages will be used, the needed anchorage being provided solely by the extra length of the CFRP. The necessary anchorage length was determined according to the procedure described in fib Bulletin 14 [5]. Thus, the maximum force that can be anchored (Nfa,max) and the maximum anchorage length (lb,max) are given by the equations below (5) and (6).

N fa ,max = c1 k c k b b E f f f f ctm
lb ,max = E f t f c 2 f ctm

(5)

Fs = F f

(1)

Af =

f yd E f f

As

(2)

(6)

Inside formula (2), the strain in FRP composite is limited to 0.8%, being the accepted limit for elements subjected to flexure. This value is much lower than the ultimate strain provided by the producers, being considered the value at which debonding occurs. The design yield strength of reinforcement was assumed in computation with a value of 370 MPa, corresponding to the data provided by the producer for the STNB type of reinforcement. A series of different types of FRP materials with different characteristics can be used in the experimental program. It was decided to use CFRP lamellas that have a modulus of elasticity of 165000 MPa and a thickness of 1.2 mm. As an exemplification, the way the quantity of strengthening material was determined for slab RCSRSC-01 is presented below. When creating the cut-out, fifteen transversal reinforcing steel bars and eleven longitudinal ones were eliminated. Since the diameter of one bar is 4 mm, the total eliminated reinforcement area is 188.5 mm2 on the transversal direction and 138.3 mm2 on the longitudinal direction.
Af = 370 MPa 188.5 mm 2 165000 MPa 0.008 370 MPa 138.3 mm 2 165000 MPa 0.008

N fa ,max = 1.0 0.64 1.0 1.0 50 165000 2640 2.9 N fa ,max = 1137 kN lb ,max = 165000 1.2 = 185 mm 2 2.9

The anchorage length will be grater than the 185 mm resulted from calculation, considering at least 500 mm for the strengthening solution. This extra length will be provided since the steel reinforcement in the immediate vicinity of the cut-out is practically unanchored, the FRP composite material being the one that will provide the required strength in that area. The way the CFRP is laid around the cut-out is presented in Fig. 5.

(3)

Af =

(4)

The area of CFRP that is required is approximately 55 mm2 on the transversal direction and 39 mm2 in the longitudinal direction. For a thickness of the lamella of 1.2 mm, the required width is 45 mm respectively 32 mm on the two directions. It was decided to use one lamella for each of the longitudinal and transversal direction, the width being 50 mm.

Fig. 5. Display of the FRP on the inferior side of slab RCSRSC-01

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Proceedings of the 11th WSEAS International Conference on Sustainability in Science Engineering

In the same manner, the slabs RCS-RLC-01 and RCS-CC-01 are to be strengthened.

6 Numerical models for unstrengthened slabs

A series of numerical models by means of finite element analysis were created. Using AXISVM and ABAQUS software, analyses in elastic range were performed for the four unstrengthened slabs. The models revealed the necessity of a strengthening solution, proving the fact that the behavior of the slabs becomes deficient in case of sawing in a cut-out opening. The flexural capacity of the slab determined analytically for the both directions at the inferior side is mrd,x=4.75 kNm/m respectively mrd,y=4.55 kNm/m. This capacity is reached for a full slab with the proposed geometry and simply supported along the four edges at a level of the uniformly distributed load of p=6.60 kN/m2, plus the self weight of the slab. The self weight of the slab is g=3.00 kN/m2. For the RCS-RSC-01 slab, considering a uniformly distributed load of p=6.60 kN/m2 the maximum bending moment has a value of mEd,x=9.85 kNm/m, more than twice the value of the flexural capacity. For the RCSCC-01 slab, considering a uniformly distributed load of p=6.60 kN/m2 the maximum bending moment has a value of mEd,x=6.92 kNm/m, higher than the value of the flexural capacity. For the RCS-RLC-01 slab, considering a uniformly distributed load of p=6.60 kN/m2 the maximum bending moment has a value of mEd,x=7.00 kNm/m, also higher than the value of the flexural capacity. All of the maximum values of the bending moment for the slabs with cut-outs are reached in areas around the cut-out.

Fig. 7. Distribution of mx bending moment in elements

RCS-CC-01 and RCS-RLC-01

7 Conclusions
Considering the characteristics of the experimental elements, the research program is quite innovative. It covers a gap in the world wide knowledge of strengthening of reinforced concrete slabs with cut-out using FRP materials.

8 Acknowledgments
The research work was granted to some extent by the Ministry of Education and Research through the CEEX and CNCSIS programs of the National University Research Council of Romania.

Fig. 6. Distribution of mx bending moment in elements

RCS-FS-01 and RCS-RSC-01

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2008, ISBN 978-960-6777-83-1, ISSN 1790-2769, pp 813-829. [5] Demeter I., Nagy-Gyrgy T., Stoian V., Axial loading strategy for experimental tests on precast RC walls subjected to in-plane seismic actions, Buletinul Stiintific al UPT, Tomul 52(66), 2007, ISSN 12246026, pg 11-16. [6] Demeter I., Nagy-Gyrgy T., Stoian V., Analytical and numerical models for predicting the behaviour of in-plane loaded precast RC wall panel experimental elements, Acta Technica Napocensis, 51/II-2008, Civil Engineering, ISSN 1221-5848, pp 49-56. [7] Enochsson O., CFRP strengthening of concrete slabs, with and without openings. Experiment, analysis, design and field application. Licentiate thesis, Lule University of Technology, 2005. [8] Floru S. C., Nagy-Gyrgy T., Stoian V., RC slabs strengthened with externally bonded FRP composite materials - Literature review, Composite Materials Elements and Structures for Construction, Timisoara, Romania, may 2007, pp 175-180. [9] Limam O., Foret G., Ehrlacher A., RC two-way slabs strengthened with CFRP strips: experimental study and a limit analysis approach, Composite Structures 60 (2003), pp. 467-471. [10] Mosallam, A. S., Mosalam, K. M., Strengthening of two-way concrete slabs with FRP composite laminates, Construction and Building Materials 17 (2003), pp. 43-54. [11] Mosallam A., Kreiner J., Lancey T., Haroun M., Elsanadedy H., Experimental and numerical analysis of two-way concrete slabs repaired with polymer composites, Center for Advanced Composites & Smart Systems for Repair and Rehabilitation. [12] Nagy-Gyrgy T., FRP composite materials for strengthening masonry and concrete elements (in Romanian), Ed. Politehnica, Timioara, ISBN 978973-625-445-1, 2007. [13] Sas G., Demeter I., Carolin A., Nagy-Gyrgy T., Stoian V, Tljsten B., FRP strengthened RC panels with cut-out openings, Challenges for Civil Construction (CCC 2008), Porto, Portugalia, apr 2008, ISBN 978-972-752-100-5, pp 196-197 (+8 pg). [14] Smith S.T., Kim S.J., Strengthening of one-way spanning RC slabs with cutouts using FRP composites, Construction and Building Materials, Volume 23, Issue 4, 2009, pp 1578-1590. [15] Stoian V., Nagy-Gyrgy T., Dan D., Gergely J., Descu C., Composite materials for construction (in Romanian), Editura Politehnica Timioara, 2004. [16] Tan K. H., Zhao H., Strengthening of openings in one-way reinforced-concrete slabs using carbon fiber-reinforced polymer systems, J. Compos. for Constr., Volume 8, Issue 5, pp. 393-402 (September/October 2004).

[17] Vasquez A., Karbhari V. M., Fiber-reinforced polymer composite strengthening of concrete slabs with cutouts, ACI Structural Journal, V. 100,No. 5, September-October 2003, pp. 665-67. [18] Guide for the Design and Construction of Externally Bonded FRP Systems for Strengthening Concrete Structures, ACI 440.2R 02, 2002 [19] Technical Report on the Design and Use of Externally Bonded FRP Reinforcement for Reinforced Concrete Structures, fib Bulletin 14, TG 9.3, 2001.

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