Modeling of Tension-Stiffening Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Ties Strengthened with Fiber Reinforced Plastic Sheets

A model to analyze the behavior of reinforced concrete tension ties strengthened with fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) laminates is developed that allows introduction of a nonlinear constitutive relationship for materials and bond-slip laws at the steel and FRP interface. Experimental results are introduced and compared with analytical results confirming the model reliability. By using the model, a numerical study is carried out to provide evidence of the influence of the amount of fibers and the tension-stiffening behavior of strengthened elements. Considering elements with the same mechanical percentage of reinforcement but composed of different amounts of steel and fibers, the stiffness is influenced only after steel yielding, even if the crack width is reduced by the external strengthening. Finally, evidence is provided for the reduction of tension stiffening in strengthened elements due to reduction of crack spacing.