Modelling reinforced concrete beams for structural strengthening of buildings

Abstract

Iraq has many damaged and vandalized building since it is located in the Middle East, in southwestern Asia. Reinforced concrete beams of normal weight and lightweight's beams were conducted. The study is also done on normal strength and high strength beams in each category. The reinforced concrete used were 0% and 0.75% in each category. The lengths of the concrete beams used were 35 mm and 60 mm in each category. The longitudinal reinforcement ratio in all the beams is kept at 1.46%. The effect of types of aggregates, length of concrete beams, and concrete compressive strength were studied and results were presented with regard to the shear and flexure strengths, beam load-deflection responses, mode of failure, stiffness, energy absorption, and ductility. Shear and flexural crack widths and cracking patterns of the beams were also presented. Reinforced concrete content of the beams was also discussed. The possibility of replacement of minimum concrete reinforcement for lightweight beams with reinforced concrete is discussed. The most efficient length of beams for this purpose was presented. The modeling of buildings was designed in ANSYS and the strengthening as well as reinforcement was being shown using the software tool for the buildings in Iraq.