2nd World Engineering Congress

Sarawak, Malaysia,22-25 July 2002

2002 WEC

Strengthening of Two-Way Slabs Using FRP Materials: A Simplified Analysis Based on

Response Surface Methodology
U. Ebead, H. Marzouk, and L. M. Lye
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland,
St. Johns, NF, Canada A1B 3X5
aliali@engr.min.ca, hmarzouk@engr.mun.ca ,and llye@engr.mun.ca
ABSTRACT: An experimental study and a finite element analysis of strengthened two-way slabs using FRP laminates and sheets
are discussed. Results of six specimens evaluate the effectiviness of using fibre reinforced plastics as strengthening materials for
two way slabs against flexural deffiency. An incremental elastic-plastic concrete model is implemented. In compression, the
concrete model is elastic until a yield point is reached after which irrecoverable plastic strain exists. Pre-cracking and postcracking behaviours of concrete are considered in the study with special emphasis on the impact of the presence of FRP materials
on the fracture energy and hence on the tension stiffening. In the analysis, a full bond assumption is made between the concrete
and both reinforcing steel bars and also between concrete and the strengthening FRP material. A parametric study is also carried
out to study the impact of the strengthening material type, strengthening material area ratio, span of the slab, reinforcement ratio,
and thickness of the slabs. A face-centred central composite response surface experimental design was then used to develop
simple statistical models as replacements for the complex and time consuming finite element model to explain and predict the
ultimate load carrying capacity of the slabs. Keywords: Two-way slabs, FRP, Rehabilitation, Strengthening, Finite element
analysis, Response Surface Methodology.
INTRODUCTION
Increasing attention has been placed on the applications of the
advanced composite materials especially Fibre Reinforced
Plastic (FRP) laminates and strips in the field of structural
engineering. Extensive applications of FRP composites as
construction materials have been accomplished recently. FRP
composites are lightweight, high strength, non-corrosive and
non-magnetic materials. There is a wide range of recent,
current and potential applications of these materials that cover
both new and existing structures.
FRP composites have been used in many structural engineering
projects and research studies. These composites have been
used for strengthening reinforced concrete beams, columns and
one way slabs. The flexural capacity of concrete beams is
shown to increase by bonding FRP sheets, strips or laminates
to the tension side (Ritchie, 1991; Al-Sulaimani et al. 1994;
Chaallal et al. 1998; GangaRao 1998). Other researchers have
also investigated strengthening of concrete beams in shear
using FRP laminates wrapped around three sides of beams or
gluing FRP sheets to the concrete web at locations of high
shear stresses (Triantafillou 1998; Norris and Saadatmanesh
1997).
Bond failure of the strengthened concrete beams is expected in
many cases although many end-anchoring techniques have
been developed to eliminate de-bonding failure, which
attributes to an overall brittle behaviour of beams. Numerous
research have also dealt with the debonding and peeling off
concerns of FRP bonded sheets to concrete beams (Meier et al.
1993; Arduini et al. 1991). However, few mechanical and finite
element models have been developed to provide design
guidelines and to investigate theoretically possible modes of
failure of beams rehabilitated with FRP materials based on
experimental data (Malek et al. 1998; Triantafillou 1998;
Nitereka and Neale 1999). In the finite element analysis of
strengthened beams with FRP, full bond is assumed (Nitereka
and Neale 1999).
Little research has been conducted on the strengthening of
reinforced concrete slabs, especially two-way slabs, using FRP

materials. Some research dealt with the strengthening of oneway slabs using FRP materials or steel in which slabs were
treated as very similar to beams (Karbhari et al. 94; Kikukawa
et al. 1998; Ebead and Marzouk 2002). Two-way plates of low
and medium reinforcement ratios are however subject to
flexural failure rather punching shear failure. Hence, using
FRP materials to enhance two way plates in flexure is very
desirable from the practical point of view because of the ease
of handling and installing FRP materials. However, the
drawback of using FRP materials in strengthening of flexural
structural members is the brittleness of such materials that can
cause a decrease in the ductility of such members.
EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
Properties of materials
The concrete mix was designed to achieve an average target
compressive strength of 35 MPa after 28 days. The steel rebars
were cold-formed ribbed bars CSA grade 400. The actual
characteristic strength of rebars varies from 435 MPa to 450
MPa. ASTM A325 19 mm diameter steel bolts were used in
the punching-shear-strengthening specimens. FRP laminates
and FRP strips were the main two materials used in this
investigation. FRP laminates were unidirectional glass fiber
reinforced plastics (GFRP) that weighs 913 g/m3. A layer of a
cured FRP laminate is 1.0 mm thick. FRP strips were pultruded
carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) laminates. One layer of
FRP strips is 1.2 mm thick. Two types of two-component paste
adhesive epoxy resin were used for each type of FRP product
as per the manufacturer specifications. Properties of materials
are listed in Tables 1- 3.
Table 1: Mix proportions for one cubic meter of concrete
Gravel
1160 kg
Sand
690 kg
Water/cement ratio
0.5
Superplasticizer
440 ml
Air entrainment agent
68.3 ml
Table 2: Steel reinforcement properties
Bar size
Mean yield
Mean ultimate strength

2nd World Engineering Congress

Sarawak, Malaysia,22-25 July 2002

Table 3: FRP materials properties

Cured
Tensile

Elastic

thickness

strength

modulus

Type

(mm)

(MPa)

(GPa)

CFRP

1.2

2800

170.0

GFRP

1.0

600

26.13

increase of 36.4% and 25.8 %, respectively in the ultimate load

carrying capacity compared to that of the un-strengthened
specimen, C-0.5%. Flexural-strengthening specimens utilised
FRP strips gained an increase of 29% over those that utilised
FRP laminates. Table 4 shows the ultimate load carrying
capacity of each specimen.

250

CFRP = Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic Strips

GFRP = Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic Laminates

Experimental Results
Test results included measurements of the ultimate load
carrying capacity, deformational characteristics, and steel
reinforcement strains. Of special interest in the current study is
the ultimate capacity of each specimen. Strengthened
specimens showed a gain in the load carrying capacity
compared to the associated reference specimens. Specimens
CFRP-0.35% and GFRP-0.35% showed an increase of 44.4%
and 38%, respectively in the ultimate load carrying capacity
compared to that of the un-strengthened specimen, C-0.35%. In
addition, specimens CFRP-0.5% and GFRP-0.5% showed an

8-10mm
150

12-10mm

Test slabs
The tested specimens were square with side length equal to
1900 mm and 150-mm thickness. Six (6) specimens were
tested and two specimens were used as control (unstrengthened) specimens; namely: REF-0.35% and REF-0.5%
of reinforcement ratios 0.35% and 0.50%, respectively. The
strengthened specimens CFRP-0.35% and CFRP-0.5% were
specimens with reinforcement ratios of 0.35% and 0.5%,
respectively and were strengthened using CFRP strips.
Similarly specimens GFRP-0.35% and GFRP-0.5% were
specimens with reinforcement ratios 0.35% and 0.5%,
respectively and were strengthened using GFRP laminates. The
test specimens were simply supported along the four edges
with corners free to lift and were axially loaded through the
column stub. The layout of a tested slab is shown in Figure.1
Strengthening procedure
The control specimens, REF-0.35% and REF-0.5% were tested
to estimate the capacity and the deformational characteristics of
typical un-strengthened specimens. Then, the specimens were
loaded to 50 percent of the ultimate load of the corresponding
reference specimen. The surfaces of the specimens to be
strengthened and that of the strengthening materials were
carefully cleaned by removing dust and fine materials. The
two-part epoxy resin was applied on both the concrete surfaces
and the strengthening materials. Then, the strengthening
materials were bonded to the concrete surfaces. The
strengthening materials were extended to both ends just before
the support location and were located at the bottom (tension)
side of specimens. Two layers of GFRP laminates of 300-mm
width were bonded to the slab surface in both directions of
specimens GFRP-0.35% and GFRP-0.5%. Specimens CFRP0.35% and CFRP-0.5% were strengthened using parallel FRP
strips with the same configuration as those used FRP
laminates. Transverse layers of CFRP strips were bonded at the
end of the strengthening material as an attempt to reduce the
debonding of CFRP materials as shown in Fig 1.

850

(MPa)
660

300
1830

250

CFRP or GFRP

1830

stress (MPa)
450

300

10mm

2002 WEC

250
300

1830
Dimensions are
in mm

Additional FRP
materials

W
0.00

R
0.3500

T
0.80

L
0.80

0.25
0.50

0.4625

0.90

1.10

0.5750

1.00

1.40

0.75

0.6875

1.10

1.70

1.00

0.8000

1.20

2.00

Figure 1: Strengthened specimen configuration, steel

reinforcement, and tested parameters.
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
A finite element analysis of the strengthened two-way slabs
using FRP laminates and sheets is now discussed. The aim is to
model the tested specimens using a general-purpose finite
element package ABAQUS (Hibbitt 1989).
Materials constitutive models
For concrete, an incremental elastic-plastic concrete model that
is available in the finite element package is implemented. In
this model, concrete in compression is considered elastic until
a yield point is reached after which irrecoverable plastic strain
exists. Hence, the strain rate is decomposed into elastic and
plastic strain rates followed by flow and hardening according
to the following formula:
d = d el + d cpl ,
where d is the total strain rate,

d el is the elastic strain rate,

and d is the plastic strain rate.

Regarding concrete in tension, cracking is considered the most
significant factor in concrete behaviour in tension. Generally,
cracks in the finite element simulation may be defined as
pl

2nd World Engineering Congress

Sarawak, Malaysia,22-25 July 2002

smeared, discrete, or fracture cracks. In this study, cracks were

assumed to be smeared.
Cracking is assumed to occur when the stresses reach crack
detection surface that is defined by the Coulomb line written in
the first two stress invariants. Also, cracking is assumed to
occur when the stress reaches a failure surface, that is called
the crack detection surface as shown in Figure 2.
The damaged elasticity concept is used to numerically simulate
the cracked concrete. Cracks occurrence, however, is
determined using the crack detection plasticity surface in stress
space.
The values of the modulii of elasticity and the maximum stress
of FRP materials define their constitutive models. In case of
the steel reinforcement, the complete stress strain relationship
is defined; that is, linear elastic, yield, hardening in both
compression and tension.

2002 WEC

elements
Slab shell
elements
FRP mateial

Column solid
elements

Axes of
Symmetry
Figure 3: Finite element mesh layout
Finite element analysis versus the experimental results
The finite element analysis model is implemented for the cases
of slabs where experimental results are available. A
comparison between the experimental and the finite element
analysis results in terms of the ultimate load carrying capacity
are shown in Table 4. It can be observed that the finite element
model is quite accurate in representing the problem and can be
used to study different cases of strengthened specimens that are
not included in the experimental program.
Figure 2: Concrete failure surfaces in plane stresses
(Hibbitt 1987)
Finite element model
One quarter of the concrete panel is modelled using a 5 x 5
mesh using 8-node quadrilateral shear-flexible thick-shell
elements with six degrees of freedom per node. The six
degrees of freedom are three translations in the X, Y, and Z
directions and three rotations around X, Y, and Z-axes. A 2 x 2
reduced integration rule is used over shell elements planes and
nine integration points are used through the thickness.
Guassian and Simpson integration rules were used over the
shell elements plane and through the elements thickness,
respectively.
The column part is modelled using 3-D solid brick elements
connected to the slab using a multi-point constrain condition
that over-rides the discrepancy in the number of degrees of
freedom at contact points by dominating those of the column at
the slab-column joint.
Both the steel reinforcement and FRP strengthening materials
were modelled as rebars in concrete. Treating FRP
strengthening materials as rebars located on the concrete
surface ensures the unidirectional mechanical properties of
FRP. In addition, defining steel reinforcement and FRP
materials as rebars satisfies the assumption of full bond with
the surrounding concrete.
The boundary conditions of the slab were specified as nonlinear spring elements whose stiffness in compression is very
high to represent the rigid supports. However, the stiffness of
those springs in the tension is very small to insure the real
conditions of the tested specimens are free to lift at the corners.
The finite element mesh layout is shown in Figure 3.

Table 4: Comparison between

element analysis
Pmax, exp.
Title
(kN)
REF-0.35%
250
REF-0.5%
330
CFRP-0.35%
361
GFRP-0.35%
345
CFRP-0.5%
450
GFRP-0.5%
415

the experimental and finite

Pmax,FE.
(kN)
248
311
361
321
424
416

Pmax, exp./ Pmax,FE.

1.00
1.06
1.00
1.07
1.06
1.00

PARAMETRIC STUDY
To understand the behaviour of the strengthened two-way slabs
for each type of the strengthening materials, a parametric study
was carried out. Four factors are of interest. These are: the
strengthening material fraction area, or the width ratio,W, the
reinforcement ratio, R, the normalised slab support to support
distance or the length ratio, L, and the normalised slab
thickness, or the thickness ratio, T. The width ratio, W, is the
ration between the width of the FRP material to the span. The
reinforcement ratio, R, is the actual tension reinforcement of
the slabs. The length ratio, L, is the span with respect to the
reference test specimen of length 1830 mm. Finally, the
thickness ratio, T, is normalised with respect to a specimen
with thickness 150 mm. The length of 1500 mm and thickness
of 150 mm are the typical of the specimens tested
experimentally. For all the strengthened tested specimens the
width ratio W = 0.164, the length ratio, L = 1, and the
thickness ratio, T = 1. The response of interest is the ultimate
load carrying capacity of the strengthened two-way slab, Pmax.
In this regard, a statistical design of experiment methodology

2nd World Engineering Congress

Sarawak, Malaysia,22-25 July 2002

2002 WEC

Response surface methodology

In this study, a face-centred central composite response surface
design was used to carry out the parametric study. The facecentred design was chosen because it has good design
properties, little collinearity, and because the region of interest
and the region of operability is nearly the same. Each factor is
set at three levels in a predefined manner (Myers and
Montgomery, 1995). The factors and their ranges of interest
are shown in Table 5.
Table 5: Factors and Ranges
Factor
Name
Low
Mid
W
Width ratio
0.000
0.500
R
Reinforcement ratio
0.350
0.575
T
Relative Thickness
0.800
1.000
L
Length ratio
0.800
1.400
The response is the ultimate load capacity, Pmax in KN

High
1.000
0.800
1.200
2.000

For k=4 factors, the design requires 25 (2k+2k+1) experimental

runs from the finite element model. For the case of GFRP
strengthened slabs, the experimental runs and responses from
the finite element model are given in Table 6.
Table 6: Finite element runs and responses (GFRP)
Run
W
R
T
L
Pmax (KN)
1
0.000
0.350
0.800
0.800
140.40
2
1.000
0.350
0.800
0.800
353.20
3
0.000
0.800
0.800
0.800
280.40
4
1.000
0.800
0.800
0.800
408.00
5
0.000
0.350
1.200
0.800
320.80
6
1.000
0.350
1.200
0.800
668.00
7
0.000
0.800
1.200
0.800
564.00
8
1.000
0.800
1.200
0.800
840.00
9
0.000
0.350
0.800
2.000
143.60
10
1.000
0.350
0.800
2.000
356.40
11
0.000
0.800
0.800
2.000
302.40
12
1.000
0.800
0.800
2.000
412.00
13
0.000
0.350
1.200
2.000
310.40
14
1.000
0.350
1.200
2.000
680.00
15
0.000
0.800
1.200
2.000
572.00
16
1.000
0.800
1.200
2.000
820.00
17
0.000
0.575
1.000
1.400
319.60
18
1.000
0.575
1.000
1.400
536.00
19
0.500
0.350
1.000
1.400
492.00
20
0.500
0.800
1.000
1.400
596.00
21
0.500
0.575
0.800
1.400
378.00
22
0.500
0.575
1.200
1.400
648.00
23
0.500
0.575
1.000
0.800
564.00
24
0.500
0.575
1.000
2.000
548.00
25
0.500
0.575
1.000
1.400
536.00

From the input factors and responses in Table 6, a secondorder polynomial model in the form of equation (1) can be
fitted.
k

i =1

i =1

y = 0 + i xi + ii xi2 + ij xi x j + (1)
i< j

In statistical design of experiments, it is customary to use a

coded factor scale to develop the required regression model.
That is, the lower limits of the factors are coded as (-1), and the
upper limits as (+1). Using a coded factor scale makes the
interpretation of the regression coefficients easier because they
are now of the same scale. Using a stepwise regression
procedure, the following model was obtained.
Ln Pmax = 6.294 + 0.295 Wc + 0.195 Rc + 0.343 Tc
0.247 Wc2 - 0.069 Tc2 0.119 Wc.Rc

(2)

The subscript c indicates coded factor scale. All model

coefficients are statistically significant at the 5% level and all
the assumptions of regression such as normality of residuals,
constancy of variance, adequacy of fit, etc. were fulfilled. The
R2 was 0.988 and the predicted R2 was 0.977 showing a very
good fit and good predictive accuracy. From the regression
model, one can see that there is some second order effects in W
and T and there is interaction between W and R. The effect
plot of factor T is given in Figure 4. From Figure 4, the slight
curvature in the response can be seen. It also shows that as
relative thickness increases, Pmax also increases.

DESIGN-EXPERT Plot
Ln(Pmax)

One Factor Plot

6.7

X = C: T
Design Points
Actual Factors
A: W = 0.50
B: R = 0.57
D: L = 1.4

6.3

L n ( P m a x)

called a response surface design (Montgomery, 2001) was used

to carry out the parametric analysis. This design is a very
efficient design in that only minimal finite-element runs are
required. From the responses obtained from the finite element
runs, a simple regression model can be developed as a
replacement for the finite element model which can be used to
predict the ultimate loads for different combinations of the
factors of interest. The response surface design allows a
second-order model to be fitted within the ranges set for each
of the factors of interest.

5.8

5.4

4.9

0.80

0.90

1.0

1.1

1.2

C: T

Figure 4: Effect plot of factor T (relative thickness)

The interaction between W and R can be seen in the threedimensional response surface plot in Figure 5. The curvature
is clearly seen and the graph shows that at high width ratios,
the effect of the reinforcement ratio is less pronounced than at
low width ratios.
The regression equation (2) can be converted to actual factor
scale to give:
Ln Pmax = 1.522 + 2.188 W + 1.396 R + 5.141 T 0.989 W2
- 1.714 T2 1.059 W.R
(3)
Figure 5: 3-D response surface plot of W and R.

2nd World Engineering Congress

Sarawak, Malaysia,22-25 July 2002

2002 WEC

DESIGN-EXPERT Plot

H + L
R

2 = R 0.575
Rc =
H L
0.225
2

Ln(Pmax)
X = A: W
Y = B: R
Actual Factors
C: T = 1.0
D: L = 1.4

6.5
6.2

L n (P m a x )

6.0

Where H and L are the high and low values of the

reinforcement ratio, R, in Table 5.

5.7
5.4

0.80
0.69
0.57
0.46
0.35

B: R

0.00

0.25

0.50

0.75

1.0

A: W

A similar procedure was carried out for the CFRP strips

strengthened slabs. For the CFRP case, the regression model in
coded factor scale is given by:
(4)

All the model coefficients are statistically significant at the 1%

level and all the assumptions of regression such as normality of
residuals, constancy of variance, adequacy of fit, etc. were
fulfilled. The R2 was 0.994 and the predicted R2 was 0.988
showing excellent predictive capability. The significant factors
and interaction are the same as for the GFRP materials except
that higher ultimate loads can be achieved using the CFRP
strips. In actual factor scale, the regression equation is:
Ln Pmax = 2.464 + 3.196 W + 4.121 R + 1.719 T 1.427 W2
- 2.294 T2 1.352 W.R
(5)
To convert from actual factor to coded factor scale, the
following relationship using the reinforcement ratio R as an
example:

DESIGN-EXPERT Plot
Ln(Max Load)

From the above analyses, equations (3) and (5) can now be
used as a replacement for the finite element model to predict
the ultimate load capacity of GFRP and CFRP strengthened
two-way slabs, respectively. The terms in the replacement
models make physical sense and clearly show the interaction
between some factors, namely, the width ratio W and the
reinforcement ratio, R. In addition, the replacement models
developed have predicted R2 close to unity indicating that the
models can predict the ultimate loads extremely well. This can
be seen for the case of equation (6) for CFRP materials.
Figure 6: Predicted vs. Actual values using equation (6)
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Ln Pmax = 6.647 + 0.496 Wc + 0.181 Rc + 0.344 Tc

0.357 Wc2 - 0.116 Tc2 0.152 Wc.Rc

Predicted vs. Actual

7.0430

2
6.5184

P r e d i c te d

(6)

The suggested dimensions of the strengthening FRP materials

were sufficient to achieve positive results. Strengthening
specimens using CFRP strips showed an average gain in the
ultimate load carrying capacity of about 40% over that of the
control un-strengthened specimen. In addition, strengthening
specimens using GFRP laminates showed an average gain in
the ultimate load carrying capacity of about 31% over that of
the control un-strengthened specimen.
A finite element analysis of strengthened two-way slabs using
FRP laminates and sheets were presented and an incremental
elastic-plastic concrete model was implemented. In
compression, the concrete model is elastic until a yield point is
reached after which irrecoverable plastic strain exists. Precracking and post-cracking behaviours of concrete are
considered in the study. In the analysis, a full bond assumption
is made between the concrete and both reinforcing steel bars
and also between concrete and the strengthening FRP material.
The finite element model represented the problem of flexural
strengthening of slabs using FRP to an accepted level of
accuracy. A parametric study is also carried out to study the
impact of the strengthening material type, strengthening
material area ratio, span of the slab, reinforcement ratio, and
thickness of the slabs. A face-centred central composite
response surface experimental design was then used to develop
simple statistical models as replacements for the complex and
time consuming finite element model to explain and predict the
ultimate load carrying capacity of the slabs. The replacement
models developed in this study for both GFRP and CFRP
materials can be conveniently used to provide rapid predictions
of the ultimate loads for two-way slabs strengthened by these
materials.

5.9938

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
5.4691

Financial support for the research carried out in this paper was
through grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council of Canada. Structural testing was carried out
in the strength laboratory of the Faculty of Engineering and
Applied Science, Memorial University.

4.9445

4.9445

5.4691

5.9938

Actual

6.5184

7.0430

2nd World Engineering Congress

Sarawak, Malaysia,22-25 July 2002

2002 WEC

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