Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Objective: An exploratory research on developing finite element model for studying the axial compressive behaviour of square and rectangular UHSC filled GFRP tubes was conducted. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The well-known fact of deviation in uniformity of confinement in square and rectangular concrete filled GFRP tubes was focused in the nonlinear finite element model. A square and rectangular cross section having same thickness 3mm was chosen keeping two different corner radii 30, and 40mm. The unconfined concrete strength was limited to 120 MPa. The simulation of UHSC filled GFRP tubes were done using ANSYS using elements SOLID 65 for concrete and MEMBRANE 41 for GFRP tube. Findings: The research findings from this investigation on verification by ACI code (ACI committee 440, 2002) revealed that the square CFFTs offer better confinement when compared with rectangular CFFTs and the corner radii significantly affected the ultimate load capacity of the square and rectangular CFFTs. Applications / Improvements: The study has come up with newer method of simulation of GFRP tubes using shell elements assuming perfect bonding between concrete and the tubes. This is the first kind of study in existing FEA database using shell elements. The results agreed with those predicted by the code. 
Keywords: Behaviour, Compressive, GFRP, Rectangular, Square, Ultra High Strength Concrete