Ruregold proposes two design tools for FRCM systems, consisting of PBO and Carbon fibre composite materials in combination with hi-tech cementitious mortars: Ruregold Calculation Software applications for designing and verifying structural strengthening solutions for concrete and masonry elements.
Two versions are available:
AC FRCM system, for strengthening reinforced concrete elements such as columns, beams and slab joists, may be used to verify:
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rectangular or circular section columns, solid or hollow, for deflected and combined axial and flexural forces, deflected shear and confinement,
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rectangular or T-section beams for bending and shear
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rectangular or T-section slab joists for bending.
FRCM Masonry system, for strengthening masonry elements such as panels, pillars and columns, may be used to verify:
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panels for in-plane actions (shear and combined axial and flexural forces) and out-of-plane actions,
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pillars and columns for combined axial and flexural forces and confinement and protection solutions for securing external infill walls.
Figure 1 A) definition of the geometry of the section and the strength of the materials;
Figure 1 B) definition of the longitudinal and transverse reinforcement of the element
Figure 2 A) definition of the type of strengthening;
Figure 2 B) inserting the applied stresses for sectional checks
Strengthening load-bearing walls (piers) subject to in-plane combined axial and flexural forces
The calculation software analytical formulations defined in the CNR-DT (National Research Council Technical Directive) 215/2018 (§4.1 and §12 Appendix 1), so that the user need only define the geometric and mechanical characteristics of the masonry element, the applied stresses and the strengthening to be applied in order to perform the resistance checks.
The main steps necessary to check the panel, as described above, are illustrated below (figure 4).
Figure 4) Definition of the geometry of the section, the strength of the materials (also using the "User Parameters" command) and the strengthening to be applied.
Once the data input phase is complete, the requested resistance check may be performed. A column appears automatically showing the pre- and post-intervention resistance values, the resulting increase, expressed as a percentage and the resistance check, and indicating whether it is necessary to install the respective types of connectors, as shown in figure 5.
Figure 5) Software screen capture following verification.
In this case too, once the analysis phase is complete, it is possible to view a schematic representation of the element section, the M-N interaction diagram (figure 6) and generate a calculation report including the summary of the project data, the list of reference standards and a schematic representation of the application of the strengthening system.
Figure 6) Schematic representation of the application of the strengthening on the panel and its M-N interaction domain.
