• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.1083-1096
• /
• 2016

Beam-column joints are recognized as the weak points of reinforcement concrete frames. The ductility of reinforced concrete (RC) frames during severe earthquakes can be measured through the dissipation of large energy in beam-column joint. Retrofitting and rehabilitating structures through proper methods, such as carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), are required to prevent casualties that result from the collapse of earthquake-damaged structures. The main challenge of this issue is identifying the effect of CFRP on the occurrence of failure in the joint of a cross section with normal ductility. The present study evaluates the retrofitting method for a normal ductile beam-column joint using CFRP under monotonic and cyclic loads. Thus, the finite element model of a cross section with normal ductility and made of RC is developed, and CFRP is used to retrofit the joints. This study considers three beam-column joints: one with partial CFRP wrapping, one with full CFRP wrapping, and one with normal ductility. The two cases with partial and full CFRP wrapping in the beam-column joints are used to determine the effect of retrofitting with CFRP wrapping sheets on the behavior of the beam-column joint confined by such sheets. All the models are subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading. The final capacity and hysteretic results of the dynamic analysis are investigated. A comparison of the dissipation energy graphs of the three connections shows significant enhancement in the models with partial and full CFRP wrapping. An analysis of the load-displacement curves indicates that the stiffness of the specimens is enhanced by CFRP sheets. However, the models with both partial and full CFRP wrapping exhibited no considerable improvement in terms of energy dissipation and stiffness.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.13-23
• /
• 2017

This study deals with the strengthening effect and behavioral characteristics of square concrete column wrapped with carbon FRP sheet. The increase in axial compression capacity comes from the confinement effect of wrapped CFRP sheet. Because of the shape of square concrete column, the confinement effect is smaller than that in circular column. For the experimental program, four parameters including the number of sheet, the size of column specimen, the aspect ratio, the corner rounding, and the transformation in shape from square to circular were selected to examine the strengthening effect and behavioral characteristics for each parameter. Experimental program comprised fifty five square concrete column specimens for different eleven types. The compression test results confirmed that the strengthening effect can be increased by the confinement of wrapped and bonded CFRP sheet. However, the confining effect was decreased with the increase of square column size. The other hand, the ductility in square concrete column greatly increased due to caging effect of CFRP sheet. The transformation in shape from square to circular considerably increased both the compressive strength and the ductility of the concrete column wrapped with CFRP sheet. In addition, using test results and existing studies, accuracy and reliability of the existing strength models for CFRP-confined square concrete are verified.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.199-220
• /
• 2018

In this study, the effects of sulphuric acid on the mechanical performance and the durability of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) specimens were investigated. The carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) fabrics were used to evaluate the performances of the confined and unconfined ECC specimens under static and cyclic loading in the acidic environment. In addition, the use of CFRP and BFRP fabrics as a rehabilitation technique was also studied for the specimens exposed to the sulphuric acid environment. The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber with a fraction of 2% was used in the research. Two different PVA-ECC concretes were produced using low lime fly ash (LCFA) and high lime fly ash (HCFA) with the fly ash-to-OPC ratio of 1.2. Unwrapped PVA-ECC specimens were also produced as a reference concrete and all concrete specimens were continuously immersed in 5% sulphuric acid solution ($H_2SO_4$). The mechanical performance and the durability of specimens were evaluated by means of the visual inspection, weight change, static and cyclic loading, and failure mode. In addition, microscopic changes of the PVA-ECC specimens due to sulphuric acid attack were also assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand the macroscale behavior of the specimens. Results indicated that PVA-ECC specimens produced with low lime fly ash (LCFA) showed superior performance than the specimens produced with high lime fly ash (HCFA) in the acidic environment. In addition, confinement of ECC specimens with BFRP and CFRP fabrics significantly improved compressive strength, ductility, and durability of the specimens. PVA-ECC specimens wrapped with carbon FRP fabric showed better mechanical performance and durability properties than the specimens wrapped with basalt FRP fabric. Both FRP materials can be used as a rehabilitation material in the acidic environment.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.83 no.4
• /
• pp.515-535
• /
• 2022

The strength models for fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-confined normal strength concrete (NC) cylinders available in the literature have been suggested based on small databases using limited variables of such structural members portraying less accuracy. The artificial neural network (ANN) is an advanced technique for precisely predicting the response of composite structures by considering a large number of parameters. The main objective of the present investigation is to develop an ANN model for the axial strength of FRP-confined NC cylinders using various parameters to give the highest accuracy of the predictions. To secure this aim, a large experimental database of 313 FRP-confined NC cylinders has been constructed from previous research investigations. An evaluation of 33 different empirical strength models has been performed using various statistical parameters (root mean squared error RMSE, mean absolute error MAE, and coefficient of determination R²) over the developed database. Then, a new ANN model using the Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) has been proposed based on the experimental database that portrayed the highest performance as compared with the previous models with R²=0.92, RMSE=0.27, and MAE=0.33. Therefore, the suggested ANN model can accurately capture the axial strength of FRP-confined NC cylinders that can be used for the further analysis and design of such members in the construction industry.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.41-46
• /
• 2024

The current study investigates the seismic performance of shear-dominant RC columns retrofitted with iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe SMA). Three RC columns with insufficient transverse reinforcement were designed and fabricated for lateral cyclic loading tests. Before testing, two specimens were externally confined with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets and self-prestressed Fe SMA strips. The test results showed that both CFRP and Fe SMA performed well in preventing severe shear failure exhibited by the unretrofitted control specimen. Furthermore, the two retrofitted specimens showed ductile flexural responses up to the drift ratios of ±8%. In terms of damage control, however, the Fe SMA confinement was superior to CFRP confinement in that the spalling of concrete was much less and that the rupture of confinement did not occur.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.441-450
• /
• 2010

This is a preliminary study on the development of precast beam-column joints for dry construction methodology. Precast beam column joints with thru-connectors (BCJ_TC) using high strength bars or PS strands were developed and their seismic performance including strength degradation, stiffness degradation and energy dissipation capacity was experimentally evaluated. Test results showed that compressive failures at the end blocks of PC beam members occurred dominantly while PC columns including panel zones were free from any damage. However, the connections confined with CFRP at the end block showed much improved seismic performance than that of the unconfined connections. Connections with neoprene pad fillers between beam and column interfaces were better than the other connections in all the seismic performances except initial stiffness. To improve the seismic performances of BCJ_TC, compressive strength of the concrete at the end block need to be increased to compensate for the additional compressive stresses due to unbonded connectors and deformation of connectors should be controlled respectively.