Behavior of square concrete columns strengthened with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) strips

摘要

Reinforced concrete columns with insufficient transverse steel reinforcement are not capable to dissipate seismic energy due to lack of necessary ductility. In this research, six RC columns with poor transverse reinforcements are tested under cyclic and axial loads as control columns and retrofitted ones. Pre-stressed and non-pre-stressed CFRP strips used as external transverse reinforcement to evaluate the benefits of active and passive confinement. Results indicate that additional confinement due to the use of CFRP strips enhances the strength, ductility and energy dissipation capacity of columns. The advantages of active confinement versus passive confinement are demonstrated too.