Finite Element Analysis of Composite-Concrete Adhesion

The need for the rehabilitation of bridges and structures is becoming more apparent as the number of deficient civil structure grows and the cost of replacement is becoming prohibitive. These leads to the search of alternative methods, such as rehabilitation, to put the deteriorated structures back to normal operation with the least possible cost. One such method is the use of composite plates adhesively bonded to concrete as reinforcement and to prevent the propagation of crack within the concrete structure. In this study the load transfer and the resulting stress distribution in the composite-concrete adhesion system is investigated using the finite element method. The effects of the different bond parameters are studied using the finite element. In addition, results of the finite element analysis are proved to be in agreement with the analytical solution of shear stress distribution in the adhesion layer that was developed in previous studies by the authors.