Numerical parametric study on the flexural response and failure characteristics of GFRP-concrete composite beams with GFRP dowel shear connectors

Abstract This paper presents the findings of a numerical study conducted to examine the influence of different structural parameters on the response of a complete steel-free, glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) dowel connector based, GFRP-concrete composite beam. The three-dimensional nonlinear an...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ankit Singh Mehra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-04-01
Series:Discover Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-06819-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850187444029227008
author Ankit Singh Mehra
Shamsher Bahadur Singh
author_facet Ankit Singh Mehra
Shamsher Bahadur Singh
author_sort Ankit Singh Mehra
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This paper presents the findings of a numerical study conducted to examine the influence of different structural parameters on the response of a complete steel-free, glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) dowel connector based, GFRP-concrete composite beam. The three-dimensional nonlinear analysis was carried out using the commercial software package Abaqus/CAE, and the damage evolution in concrete was defined using the concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) material model. The methodology was validated by comparing the results against those of an experimental study. The results showed that the composite beam ultimately fails either due to the shearing of the web or the rupture of the connected GFRP flange around the connection points; and its load-carrying capacity and stiffness have a proportional relationship with the compressive strength of concrete, the longitudinal elastic modulus of the profile, the elastic modulus of the connectors, the width of the concrete slab, the depth of the composite section, and the wall thickness of the profile; and an inverse relationship with the span length and the angle of inclination of connectors. The vertical deformations are significantly affected by the shear modulus of the GFRP profile; a relatively better response is obtained with a closed section profile; an optimum connector diameter and longitudinal spacing value exists at which the load carrying capacity is maximum; and the provision of web cutouts deteriorates the overall structural behavior. The critical findings of the study will assist the structural designers/researchers in developing an efficient and optimum design configuration for such structures in the near future.
format Article
id doaj-art-48220d072d534c06b2887c8d141251e4
institution OA Journals
issn 3004-9261
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Discover Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-48220d072d534c06b2887c8d141251e42025-08-20T02:16:06ZengSpringerDiscover Applied Sciences3004-92612025-04-017414910.1007/s42452-025-06819-3Numerical parametric study on the flexural response and failure characteristics of GFRP-concrete composite beams with GFRP dowel shear connectorsAnkit Singh Mehra0Shamsher Bahadur Singh1Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty Division-1, Birla Institute of Technology & Science(BITS)Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty Division-1, Birla Institute of Technology & Science(BITS)Abstract This paper presents the findings of a numerical study conducted to examine the influence of different structural parameters on the response of a complete steel-free, glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) dowel connector based, GFRP-concrete composite beam. The three-dimensional nonlinear analysis was carried out using the commercial software package Abaqus/CAE, and the damage evolution in concrete was defined using the concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) material model. The methodology was validated by comparing the results against those of an experimental study. The results showed that the composite beam ultimately fails either due to the shearing of the web or the rupture of the connected GFRP flange around the connection points; and its load-carrying capacity and stiffness have a proportional relationship with the compressive strength of concrete, the longitudinal elastic modulus of the profile, the elastic modulus of the connectors, the width of the concrete slab, the depth of the composite section, and the wall thickness of the profile; and an inverse relationship with the span length and the angle of inclination of connectors. The vertical deformations are significantly affected by the shear modulus of the GFRP profile; a relatively better response is obtained with a closed section profile; an optimum connector diameter and longitudinal spacing value exists at which the load carrying capacity is maximum; and the provision of web cutouts deteriorates the overall structural behavior. The critical findings of the study will assist the structural designers/researchers in developing an efficient and optimum design configuration for such structures in the near future.https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-06819-3GFRP-concrete composite beamGFRP dowel shear connectorsPultruded GFRP profileFinite element analysisInterfacial slipConcrete damaged plasticity
spellingShingle Ankit Singh Mehra
Shamsher Bahadur Singh
Numerical parametric study on the flexural response and failure characteristics of GFRP-concrete composite beams with GFRP dowel shear connectors
Discover Applied Sciences
GFRP-concrete composite beam
GFRP dowel shear connectors
Pultruded GFRP profile
Finite element analysis
Interfacial slip
Concrete damaged plasticity
title Numerical parametric study on the flexural response and failure characteristics of GFRP-concrete composite beams with GFRP dowel shear connectors
title_full Numerical parametric study on the flexural response and failure characteristics of GFRP-concrete composite beams with GFRP dowel shear connectors
title_fullStr Numerical parametric study on the flexural response and failure characteristics of GFRP-concrete composite beams with GFRP dowel shear connectors
title_full_unstemmed Numerical parametric study on the flexural response and failure characteristics of GFRP-concrete composite beams with GFRP dowel shear connectors
title_short Numerical parametric study on the flexural response and failure characteristics of GFRP-concrete composite beams with GFRP dowel shear connectors
title_sort numerical parametric study on the flexural response and failure characteristics of gfrp concrete composite beams with gfrp dowel shear connectors
topic GFRP-concrete composite beam
GFRP dowel shear connectors
Pultruded GFRP profile
Finite element analysis
Interfacial slip
Concrete damaged plasticity
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-06819-3
work_keys_str_mv AT ankitsinghmehra numericalparametricstudyontheflexuralresponseandfailurecharacteristicsofgfrpconcretecompositebeamswithgfrpdowelshearconnectors
AT shamsherbahadursingh numericalparametricstudyontheflexuralresponseandfailurecharacteristicsofgfrpconcretecompositebeamswithgfrpdowelshearconnectors