Lennart Elfgren

Strengthening concrete beams for shear using CFRP-materials : evaluation of different application methods

This paper presents different methods and tests for the application of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) fabrics and tapes to concrete beams. The purpose of the tests were twofold; first to study the shear force capacity of the beams both before and after strengthening; and second, to examine three different ways of applying the fabrics. These were: two hand lay-up systems, one vacuum injection system and one pre-preg system. The total number of beams tested was eight. The test results proved that a very good strengthening effect in shear could be achieved by bonding fabrics to the face of concrete beams. However, a lot of energy was released at failure, which led to brittle failures. The tests also showed that the techniques which used hand lay-up were preferable as compared to other systems, even though the fibre weight fraction was considerably less. However, the vacuum injection system was the most environmentally friendly method.

Assessment of European railway bridges for future traffic demands and longer lives – EC project “Sustainable Bridges”

A European Integrated Research Project has recently been started within the 6th Framework Program of the European Commission. The project aims at improved methods for the upgrading of existing railway bridges within the European railway network. The main objectives of the project are to increase the transport capacity by allowing higher axle loads and by increasing the maximum speeds. Other objectives are to increase the residual lifetime of existing bridges and to enhance management, strengthening and repair systems. The overall goal is to enable the delivery of improved capacity without compromising the safety and economy of the working railway. A consortium consisting of railway bridge owners, consultants, contractors, research institutes and universities will carry out the project, having a gross budget of more than 10 million Euros. Funding from the European Commission covers a major portion of the four-year project costs.

Assessment of the Strengthening of an RC Railway Bridge with CFRP Utilizing a Full-Scale Failure Test and Finite-Element Analysis

A finite element (FE) model was calibrated using the data obtained from a full-scale test to failure of a 50 year old reinforced concrete (RC) railway bridge. The model was then used to assess the ...

Photographic strain monitoring during full-scale failure testing of Örnsköldsvik bridge

Full-scale failure tests are rarely performed on structures, primarily due to their high costs and the lack of suitable test objects. This article reports the results of a ‘test-to-failure’ performed using a real bridge. The results obtained in such tests are valuable for assessing analytical models, updating finite element models and investigating the real behaviour of structures. The specific intention in these experiments was to study the shear failure of the bridge, which is a less well-understood mode of failure than is bending. To this end, it was necessary to strengthen the bridge using near-surface-mounted reinforcements made of carbon fibre–reinforced polymer bars in order to prevent bending failure. The bridge was heavily monitored during the test, using both traditional sensors such as electrical strain gauges and linear variable differential transducers alongside new monitoring systems such as fibre-optic sensors, strain rosette linear variable differential transducers and a novel photographic monitoring system. This article presents the photographic strain measurements and describes the use of the photographic tools in monitoring and characterizing the behaviour of the failure zone during the full-scale test. The strains measured using the photographic method were found to agree well with those measured using classical strain gauges. In addition, the strain contour plots generated using the photographic method provided crucial insights into the strains within the bridge’s failure zone. This study was conducted under the remit of the EU ‘Sustainable Bridges’ Project.

Tension of reinforced concrete prisms. Bond properties of reinforcement bars embedded in concrete tie elements. Summary of a RILEM round-robin investigation arranged by TC 147-FMB ‘Fracture Mechanics to Anchorage and Bond’

Results are presented from a RILEM Round Robin Investigation. It deals with tension stiffening of reinforcement bars embedded in concrete tie elements. Seven groups of researchers have performed some 50 tests and analyses. Parameters discussed are: cover thickness, crack spacing, bar size, tension stiffening of naked reinforcing bars, and influence of concrete strain softening.

Fracture energy and fatigue strength of unreinforced concrete beams at normal and low temperatures

Results are presented from tests where the fracture energy and the fatigue strength have been determined for unreinforced concrete beams. The tests were performed at temperatures between +20 and −3 ...

Loading to failure and 3D nonlinear FE modelling of a strengthened RC bridge

A reinforced concrete railway trough bridge in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, was strengthened in bending with rods of carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer and loaded to failure. The aim was to test and calibrate methods developed in the European Research Project ‘Sustainable Bridges’ regarding assessment and strengthening of existing bridges. A steel beam was placed in the middle of one of the two spans and was pulled downwards. Failure was reached at an applied load of 11.7 MN. It was initiated by a bond failure caused by a combined action of shear, torsion as well as bending after yielding in the longitudinal steel reinforcement and the stirrups. The bond failure led to a redistribution of the internal forces from the tensile reinforcement to the stirrups, causing the final failure. The computer models developed to simulate the loading process were improved step by step from linear shell models to more detailed models. The most developed model, a three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model with discrete reinforcement, gave accurate accounts of the response of the bridge.

Anchor Bolts Analysed with Fracture Mechanics

A fracture mechanics analysis is presented of anchor bolts embedded in concrete or grouted in concrete or rock. A discrete crack approach is used with a bi-linear softening material model.

Influence of Surface Reinforcement, Member Thickness, and Cracked Concrete on Tensile Capacity of Anchor Bolts

An extensive numerical study was carried out to evaluate the influence of concrete member thickness and orthogonal surface reinforcement on the tensile capacity and performance of anchor bolts in u ...

Evaluation of prestress losses in prestressed concrete specimens subjected to freeze–thaw cycles

Prestressed concrete structures are considered to be reliable and durable. However, their long-term performance when subjected to frost attack is still unclear. In this work, experiments were carried out to evaluate the prestress losses in post-tensioned prestressed concrete specimens subjected to freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs). Two cases were considered: in one case, a series of specimens were prepared and tested in a freeze–thaw chamber; in the second case, the same series of specimens were tested in an indoor environment (outside the chamber). The difference between the prestress losses of the specimens inside the freeze–thaw chamber and those outside the chamber equalled the prestress losses due to FTCs. When using mathematical models to predict the prestress losses due to the FTCs, it was found that they were relatively small when the concrete was slightly damaged. However, they increased rapidly when the FTCs were repeated. The eccentricity of the prestress wires led to larger prestress losses when subjected to FTCs. Moreover, the same cross section and eccentricity resulted in similar prestress losses due to the FTCs, and the relatively high-strength concrete could withstand more FTCs.