Experimentally and Numerically Investigating the Performances of Aramid Fiber-Reinforced Steel Beams Under Impact Loadings

Impact force is expressed as the change of stresses that occur during the collision of two objects. Nowadays both reinforced concrete and steel structures can be exposed to the impact forces. In particular, structures with strategic importance must be reinforced against impact forces. Since the impact loading is an instantaneous and dynamic load, the deformations due to impact occur in a very short time. The study consists of three stages. Initially, experimental research was carried out in order to have high strength of composite element consisting of different epoxy and aramid fiber-reinforced polymers (AFRP). In the second stage, the experimental behavior of the abovementioned samples was examined. Finally, a finite element model was developed in order to have a prediction for the future studies. At the end of the study, when the steel element under impact was strengthened with different ratios of AFRP, displacement value has decreased. With the help of experimental data the finite element model was confirmed with marginal error of 2–3%.