Numerical Investigation of RC Beams Reinforced With Geo-grid And Steel Fiber in The Flexural

Abstract

Geo-grid is a material manufactured from polymers and classified as a geo-synthetic material. Nowadays, using geo-grid in reinforced concrete members sets a new beginning in employing geosynthetic materials in structural engineering. This research work describes a comparative study of RC beams reinforced with uniaxial geogrid and steel fibers in the presence of flexural reinforcement. Eleven experimentally tested reinforced concrete beams were chosen to verify this work. ANSYS program was used in the analysis of the beams. Concrete is modeled as solid element (SOLID65), whereas geo-grid and steel fibers were modeled as volumetric ratios. A parametric study was carried out using eighty-five reinforced concrete beams. The eighty-five beam specimens may be classified into fifteen groups. They were modeled using ANSYS Vr (15.0) nonlinear finite element program. The main studied parameters were the compressive strength, different volumes of steel fibers, different values of geo-grid volumetric ratio (3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, and 9%), and different Bottom Reinforcement Ratios. Addition of uniaxial geo-grids as a reinforcing technique proved to be an effective tool to improve the flexural behavior of beams and improve the cracking patterns. Increasing the geogrid volumetric ratio in reinforced concrete beams plays a major role in ameliorating their flexural behavior.