FRP retrofitted RC slabs using finite difference model

Current guidelines recommend using single-degree-of-freedom(SDOF) method for dynamic analysis of reinforced concretec (RC) structures against blast loads, which is not suitable for retrofitted members. Thus, a finite difference procedure developed in another study was used to accurately and efficiently analyze the dynamic response of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) plated members under blast loads. It can accommodate changes in the mechanical properties of a member's cross section along its length and through its depth in each time step, making it possible to directly incorporate both strain rate effects (which will vary along the length and depth of a member) and non-uniform member loading to solve the partial differential equation of motion. The accuracy of the proposed method was validated in part using data from field blast testing. The finite difference procedure is implemented easily and enables accurate predictions of FRP-plated-member response.