Predictive Modelling of CFRP-Steel Double Strap Joints

Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP), which can be used to strengthen and repair damaged steel structures, have gained popularity in recent years. On the one hand, CFRP has demonstrated substantial advantages over conventional reinforcing techniques like welding and bolting, such as light weight, high strength, and corrosion resistance. Additionally, the CFRP application process is relatively easy, rapid, and labor-intensive. On the other hand, failure is more likely to happen at the bond interface due to the high strength characteristics of steel and CFRP. Thus, studying the bond behavior and failure mechanism of CFRP strengthened steel structures as well as the variables that are crucial to the bond quality. Prior to implementing these elements in an actual construction, it is necessary to thoroughly study the factors affecting this bond strength. Despite the fact that some theoretical predictive modeling for the strength between steel/CFRP joints under various loading situations has been published, in this work, by using finite element modelling, one may compute the failure loads and effective length of the steel/CFRP specimens quickly, simply and accurately. Additionally, factors affecting these parameters are also investigated in this study.