International Journal of Computer Theory and Engineering

Abstract

Many of the existing reinforced concrete structures throughout the world are in urgent need of rehabilitation, repair or reconstruction because of deterioration due to various factors like corrosion, lack of detailing, failure of bonding between beamcolumn joints, increase in service loads etc. FRP composite has been accepted as a promising substitute for repairing and in incrementing the strength of RCC structures. During the last decade there has been a renewed interest in the natural fibre as a substitute for conventional FRP materials such as glass fibres and carbon fibres, motivated by potential advantages of weight saving, lower raw material price, and 'thermal recycling' or the ecological advantages of using resources which are renewable, also natural fibres are sustainable materials. Among the various natural fibres, Bamboo fibre reinforced composite is of particular interest as these composites have high impact strength besides having moderate tensile and flexural properties. Here a nonlinear finite element analysis is carried out in order to evaluate the performance of Bamboo fibres in structural retrofitting by retrofitting a Plain Concrete Block by using Bamboo fibre reinforced polymer. It is seen that the strengthened specimens exhibit significant increase in strength, stiffness, and stability as compared to controlled specimens.