NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE STRENGTH OF STIRRUP MADE OF KEVLAR

In this study, the mechanical behavior of stirrups commonly used in reinforced concrete structures when manufactured from Kevlar instead of steel was investigated using numerical analysis. Kevlar, an aramid fiber with advantages such as light weight, high tensile strength, flexibility, and corrosion
resistance, is attracting attention as an alternative reinforcement element to steel, particularly in humid and aggressive environmental conditions. However, Kevlar’s anisotropic structure causes its elastic modulus and shear stiffness to vary significantly depending on direction, significantly affecting its deformation behavior under loading. In this context, steel and Kevlar stirrups were modeled under the same geometric conditions, and their deformation and stress distributions under axial load were compared. The analysis results showed that Kevlar stirrups tend to deform more in their weaker directions, while steel, due to its isotropic structure, provides a more balanced stress distribution. Furthermore, since the study did not include a concrete model, it is anticipated that the high deformations that could limit Kevlar’s performance in real-world applications will be significantly reduced when evaluated in conjunction with concrete. The findings suggest that Kevlar stirrups have potential for use in structural systems with appropriate engineering design, but that evaluation with more comprehensive models that include concrete-stirrup interactions is necessary