Non-linear analysis of strengthened RC beams with web openings

This paper aims to clarify the non-linear behaviour of strengthened reinforced concrete beams with rectangular web openings. The non-linear behaviour has been investigated by introducing a new numerical implementation of damage-non-linear elastic theory. The proposed theoretical approach will analyse the efficiency of applying carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates as an external strengthening technique in a three-dimensional domain in order to determine the effective and economic strengthening configuration. More attention has been paid to explaining the computational algorithm used in the non-linear analysis. The main investigated parameters are the opening height and the strengthening configurations using CFRP in the vicinity of the web opening. The numerical results have been displayed and validated against the available experimental results in the literature. Furthermore, the modes of failure corresponding for each strengthening scheme have also been introduced.