Structural Behavior of Concrete Beams with Openings Reinforced with Innovative Composite Materials
Y. B. I. Shaheen1, A. A. El Sayed2
1Y. B. I. Shaheen, Professor of Strength and Testing of Materials, Faculty of Engineering, Menoufia University, Egypt.
2A. A. El Sayed, Assoc. Prof., Modern Academy, Cairo, Egypt.
Manuscript received on 08 December 2015 | Revised Manuscript received on 16 December 2015 | Manuscript Published on 30 December 2015 | PP: 23-35 | Volume-5 Issue-7, December 2015 | Retrieval Number: G2246125715/2015©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: This research aims at developing structural behavior of Ferro-cement beams with openings. To accomplish this objective, an extensive experimental program was conducted. In addition theoretical mathematical models were investigated. The experimental program comprised casting and testing of fourteen reinforced concrete beams of dimensions 200x100x2000mm.These beams are organized in six groups, Group number one is the control group in which beams are cast using conventional reinforcement where beam B1 was reinforced with two steel bars Φ12mm at the bottom and two steel bars Φ10mm at top. Number of steel stirrups 16 Φ 8mm. Beam B2 is the same as B1 but with the addition of polypropylene fibers to the concrete matrix. Group two consists of casting three beams namely B3, B4 and B5. Beam B3 was reinforced as B2 but with two openings of dimensions 10×20 cm located at equal distances from the end of the beam. Beams B4 and B5 were reinforced with two steel bars Φ 12mm at the bottom and two steel bars Φ10mm at the top with two and four layers welded steel meshes respectively. Group three comprises of casting and testing two beams B6 and B7 with two openings 10x20cm located at equal distances from the ends of beam and reinforced with one and two layers of expanded steel meshes respectively. Group four consists of casting and testing beams B8 and B9 which reinforced with one and two layers of fiber glass mesh for durability reason respectively. Group five consists of beams B10 and B11 having three openings and reinforced with four layers welded steel meshes and two layers expanded steel meshes respectively. Group six comprises beams B12, B13 and B14 with three openings and reinforced with four layers welded steel meshes, two layers expanded steel meshes and three layers welded steel meshes respectively. The test specimens were tested as simple beams under four line loadings on a span of 180cm. The performance of the test beams interms of strength, stiffness, cracking behavior, ductility, and energy absorption properties was investigated. The behavior of the developed beams was compared to that of the control beams. Two analytical models were modified and used to suit the developed composite beams one to predict the first crack load based on the well-known principles of strength of materials, and the other one to determine the ultimate strength and mode of failure based on the ultimate strength theory. The experimental results showed that high ultimate and serviceability loads, better crack resistance control, high ductility, and good energy absorption properties could be achieved by using the proposed beams. Comparison between the experimental results and the results obtained from the theoretical model showed that there is a close agreement for all beams. This agreement verified the validity of this model. Keywords:
Keywords: Ferro-cement; Beams with openings; Experimental program; Structural behavior; Analytical model.
Scope of the Article: Structural behavior