Improvement of local buckling behaviour of steel beams through bonding GFRP plates

Abstract Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites are used extensively to strengthen and/or to rehabilitate infrastructures. The current study focuses on the use of GFRP for enhancing local buckling behaviour of wide flange steel beams. The study is conducted numerically using a nonlinear finite element model developed in-house. In the numerical model, consistent shell elements are used to simulate the flanges and web of the steel beams as well as the GFRP plates. The interface between the steel and GFRP plates is simulated using a set of continuous linear spring systems representing both the shear and peel stiffness of the adhesive based on values obtained from a previous experimental study. The numerical model is validated using test results and numerical predictions available in literature. Various failure modes, including GFRP rupture, adhesive shear failure, and local buckling of the flanges of beams are included in the model. The effect of geometric imperfection and residual stresses are also included. The model is then used to conduct a parametric study to assess the effect of bonding GFRP plates on enhancing the local buckling behaviour of wide flange steel beams. The results reveal that the effectiveness of this approach especially for the case of slender beams.