SIKA CarboDur Composite Strengthening Systems

Use of Software FRP-Analysis

2.1 General
The software package FRP-Analysis may be used as a user friendly, simple and reliable design tool for the selection of required FRP dimensions to provide flexural strengthening, shear strengthening or confinement in Reinforced Concrete sections. Essentially, the software is divided in two procedures. The first one is related to definitions of input data, solution options and print options, whereas the second involves presentation of results, selection of appropriate number of FRP strips or layers and printing. Between the two distinct procedures lies the numerical solutions algorithm. When the programme starts, the user is asked to provide Data Input for one of the following three cases: flexural strengthening (ULS and SLS), shear strengthening, confinement. When all data are provided, the user may either proceed to the Solution or initialise the input parametres through the New Input option. During the data input definitions, the programme checks for the validity of input parametres and provides warnings if incorrect actions are taken. Through a series of Options the user may define print-related information, or even change the default values for FRP material safety factors. Finally, the commands Open and Save provide the possibility to the user to keep track of the various strengthening projects, whose input data are loaded and saved by demand. By clicking Solution, the programmes heart, that is the solution procedure is activated. When the solution procedure is finished, the results are provided in terms of the FRP cross sectional area (in case of flexural strengthening) or total FRP thickness (in case of shear strengthening or confinement) required for a given problem. For the case of flexural strengthening additional information is provided regarding the degree of strengthening (moment capacity after strengthening divided by that before strengthening), the strain profile (e.g. neutral axis depth, concrete, steel and FRP strains) during strengthening as well as that after strengthening, the ductility, the failure mode, the acting moment before strengthening (at the SLS) and the maximum achievable acting moment (at the SLS). Finally, the user has the option to input dimensions of real FRP products (e.g. thickness and width of strips in the case of flexural strengthening, thickness of each layer in the case of shear

strengthening or confinement) and the programme responds with the calculation of number of strips or layers and the corresponding capacity (flexural, shear or confinement).