Creep in concrete beams strengthened with composite materials

This paper investigates the creep behaviour of concrete beams strengthened with externally bonded composite materials. The challenges associated with the creep modelling of the different materials involved are discussed and a theoretical model is developed. The model derived in the paper accounts for the viscoelasticity of the materials using differential-type constitutive relations that are based on the linear Boltzman’s principle of superposition. The model also accounts for the deformability of the adhesive layer in shear and through its thickness, and for its ability to resist stresses in these directions. These aspects are not fully accounted for in the existing models. An incremental formulation of the field equations is conducted via the variational principle of virtual work, which considers the variation of the internal stresses in time and their effect on the creep response. A numerical study that examines the capabilities of the model and quantifies the response of the strengthened beam to sustained loads is presented, with special focus on the edge stresses that develop at the adhesive interfaces and which initiate debonding failures. The effect of flexural cracking of the concrete is also considered through an enhancement of the model, along with a numerical example that describes the variation with time of the forces and stresses in the concrete beam, the internal steel reinforcement, and the FRP strip at the cracked section.