Numerical study of the effectiveness of frp strengthening on steel plates to against blast loads

Abstract

The consequences of accidental explosions on an offshore platform are often disastrous, with severe structural damage and loss of human life. This paper investigates whether Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) is effective in strengthening steel structures against blast loads. Finite element analysis is employed to simulate the blast responses of fully clamped steel plates with or without CFRP strengthening. The results show that the addition of CFRP reinforcement is relatively ineffective at preventing the rupture of the steel plate owing to the brittle behaviour exhibited by CFRP that causes premature CFRP rupture. CFRP did not contribute significantly to the overall stiffness of the plate due to its relatively low Young's modulus in comparison to steel. However, CFRP strengthening is effective in mitigating shear and tensile tearing at the plate boundary. It also leads to an appreciable decrease in the stresses and the energy absorbed by the steel plate. Therefore, strengthening steel structures with CFRP to mitigate the effects of blast loads is potentially viable, but requires further study into the cost effectiveness of such a technique.