Structural repair/strengthening of RC columns

摘要

The susceptibility of the majority of the existing building stock to structural damage largely depends on the quality of design, detailing and construction. In many cases, the engineer can extend the life span of a building structure by utilizing simple repair/strengthening techniques. The choice of the repair/strengthening technique becomes, therefore, the decisive factor, since high cost would deter many building owners from executing essential repair works. In this paper, a cost-effective and efficient technique for strengthening rc columns is described. The proposed technique involves post-tensioning metal strips around reinforced concrete columns, by using a strapping machine. The preliminary results of the experimental work carried out at Sheffield University indicate that such strengthening can increase member strength and ductility to higher levels than those possible by conventional reinforcement, at only a fraction of the time and cost required by alternative techniques.