Abstract
Many engineering applications often involve the minimization of objective functions. The optimization becomes very difficult when the objective functions are either unknown or do not have an explicit form. This is certainly the case in the strengthening of existing precracked reinforced concrete structures using external carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcement. For a given concrete structure, the identification of the optimum strengthening system is very important and difficult, and depends on many parameters including the extent and distribution of existing cracks, loading capacity, materials and environment. The choice of these parameters essentially forms a coupled problem of finite element analysis and parameter optimization with the aim of increasing the serviceability of the structure concerned. In this paper, virtual ant algorithms combined with nonlinear FE analysis are used in the optimization of the strengthening parameters. Simulations show that the location and orientation of the CFRP reinforcement has a significant influence on the behaviour of the strengthened structure. The orientation of the reinforcement with a fixed location becomes optimal if the reinforcing material is placed perpendicular to the existing crack direction. The implication for strengthening will also be presented.
Chapter PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Keywords
- Concrete Structure
- Concrete Beam
- Constraint Satisfaction Problem
- Carbon Fibre Reinforce Polymer
- Couple Problem
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
References
de Borst, R.: Smeared cracking, plastity, creep and thermal loading - a unified approach. Comp. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng. 62, 89–110 (1987)
Lees, J.M., Winistoerfer, A.U., Meier, U.: External prestressed CFRP straps for the shear enhancement of concrete. ASCE J Composites for Construction 6, 249–256 (2002)
Hoult, N.A., Lees, J.M.: Shear retrofitting of reinfoced concrete beams using CFRP straps. In: Proc. Advanced Composite Materials in Bridges and Structures, Calgary, July 20-23 (2004)
Lees, J.M., Morley, C.T., Yang, X.S., Hasan Dirar, S.M.O.: Fibre reinforced polymer strengthening of pre-cracked concrete structures. Concrete 39, 36–37 (2005)
Solnon, C.: Ants can solve constraint satisfaction problems. IEEE Trans. Evolutionary Computing 6, 347–357 (2002)
Taher, S.E.M.: Strengthening of critically designed girders with dapped ends. Structures and Buildings 158, 141–152 (2005)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Yang, XS., Lees, J.M., Morley, C.T. (2006). Application of Virtual Ant Algorithms in the Optimization of CFRP Shear Strengthened Precracked Structures. In: Alexandrov, V.N., van Albada, G.D., Sloot, P.M.A., Dongarra, J. (eds) Computational Science – ICCS 2006. ICCS 2006. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 3991. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11758501_117
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/11758501_117
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-34379-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-34380-6
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)