Design of a large-scale experimental test of high-rise concrete wall reinforced with fiber reinforced polymers

Details

Supervisors

Saraiva Esteves Pacheco De Almeida, João ; Hoult, Ryan

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil des constructions, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

Reinforced concrete (RC) walls are employed in countless buildings, from mid-rise to high-rise. One of the major challenges in the field of construction nowadays is to make concrete usage more environmentally friendly and to extend the lifetime of buildings. One solution to these issues is the utilization of GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer) as reinforcement. However, despite its resistance to corrosion, this polymer is significantly underutilized in the industry. The lack of understanding of the seismic behavior of FRP is one of the main obstacles. Unlike steel, GFRP exhibits an elastic behavior and a lack of ductility, making it susceptible to brittle failure. In the existing literature, experimental tests have mostly been conducted on rectangular walls. This study aims to advance knowledge on the subject by preparing an experimental test on an I-shaped wall reinforced with GFRP. The I-shaped wall was designed using various numerical models and following the next generation of Eurocode 2. The experimental setup has also been thoughtfully devised to preemptively address potential issues during the experiment’s execution.