Analytical Study of Plastic Hinge Formation in Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets

Flexural members when subjected to loads greater than their capacity have a tendency to yield, and thus, it is imperative to study the nonlinear behaviour of flexural members for the newly constructed structures as well the existing structures. To quantify the plastic hinge formation in structural members using conventional methods is a strenuous task as it involves a lot of variables. In this study, we have used the FEM software ABAQUS to evaluate the nonlinear behaviour of RC beams. The member is then retrofitted with CFRP sheets to study the effect of strengthening the member and to conduct a comparative study of both, conventional as well as the retrofitted beam under the similar four-point monotonic loading. On analyzing the models and the graphs, it was observed that the ultimate strength of the retrofitted structure had increased and the deflection at the mid span had reduced when compared to the non-retrofitted beam.