Optimal design of FRP reinforcement for concrete shells
The growing demand for sustainable, efficient, and durable structures in civil engineering has intensified research into alternative materials and structural systems. This thesis investigates the use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP), specifically Basalt FRP (BFRP), as reinforcement in concrete she...
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| Tipo de recurso: | tesis de maestría |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/443190 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/443190 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Reinforced concrete construction Concrete beams Finite element method Construcció en formigó armat Bigues de formigó Elements finits, Mètode dels Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil |
| Sumario: | The growing demand for sustainable, efficient, and durable structures in civil engineering has intensified research into alternative materials and structural systems. This thesis investigates the use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP), specifically Basalt FRP (BFRP), as reinforcement in concrete shell structures. Shells, characterized by their thin curved geometries and efficient load-bearing mechanisms, offer a promising structural solution that minimizes material usage while maximizing performance. However, their structural behaviour under realistic loading and boundary conditions remains complex, especially when using non-conventional reinforcement materials. The main objective of this research is to evaluate the structural performance of optimised BFRP-reinforced concrete shells by means of nonlinear finite element modelling using ABAQUS. A predefined shell geometry was analysed in several configurations by varying the shell height and applying three distinct boundary conditions: fully pinned corners, column-like restraints, and elastic foundations with rotational stiffness. All simulations included a uniformly distributed load and the self-weight of the structure, using a Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model to capture the nonlinear behaviour of concrete. The results demonstrate that shell geometry and boundary conditions significantly impact deformation control, stress distribution and structural efficiency. The analysed shell geometry consists of a square base spanning 15 metres in both horizontal directions, with a constant thickness of 10 cm and varying heights. Of the six shell heights examined, the q200 model with a height of 2.58 metres was found to offer the best balance between reducing mass and complying with the deformation limits specified by Eurocode EN 1992- 1-1. A structural efficiency ratio was defined to enable comparison of performance across different geometries. This revealed that reductions in shell height below a certain level result in disproportionately large increases in deformation and instability. This study concludes that BFRP is a viable reinforcement material for concrete shell structures when properly modelled and dimensioned. While the current results are based on numerical simulations, they underline the need for further experimental validation and deeper optimization techniques aimed at minimizing material use without exceeding serviceability limits. Future work is also encouraged in areas such as life-cycle assessment, dynamic behaviour, and the development of FRP-specific design codes for shell geometries. |
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