Cascade Strengthening of Bent Elements by Polymers with Adhesive Joints

Abstract

The subject of the article is to give a full analysis of the cascade type layouts in elements strengthening design in bending by gluing the fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials on their surfaces’ applicability and effectiveness. The research objectives are the substantiation elements cascade method application reinforcement with adhesive joints. Materials and methods are revealed in a few variants of FRP-reinforcement with application of FEM simulation. A number of diagrams and tables represent the results. The results are defined in the cost-effective efficient method presentation of the bent elements strengthening to increase their bearing capacity reserves, the features of the bonded joint behavior, the equations and formulae for the glue joint analysis and design. Conclusions are formulated in depicting the “cascade” reflects, the features of the proposed strengthening design, the base element unloading, which is gradual with each successive element attached. The design examples are oriented on the adhesive joints’ application possibility analysis of attaching the FRP elements. The results suggest the effective use possibility of the adhesive joints to strengthen rather stiff, including steel, elements in bending. The cascade method eliminates the indispensability of highly expensive high-strength materials, thereby reducing the reinforcement structures cost.