Investigating Seismic Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Columns with SFRP Using Finite Element Method

Abstract

Currently, various methods have been used for repairing and retrofitting reinforced concrete columns including Steel Fiber Reinforced Polymer (SFRP) jackets in order to improve load bearing capacity. However, the enclosure mechanism is less known by consideration of the effects of slender columns which needs much more studies. Avoiding the buckling of a slender Reinforced Concrete (RC) column against the compressive axial force using SFRP is the main aim of this research. One of the parametrical studies in this paper is the influence of the number of layers that is investigated by Finite Element Method (FEM). Accordingly, in this paper, several RC columns are modeled under the Manjil earthquake record and the force-displacement curves of each model are numerically calculated. The columns are divided into three groups: the first group is non-SFRP and the subsequent groups are reinforced by one and two layers of SFRP. At first, three-dimensional models of the columns were prepared by ABAQUS finite element software and then by applying axial load and seismic forces, the parametric effect on behavior of the columns has been investigated. The results show that the retrofitting of the column with SFRP increases the flexural and stiffness, which plays a significant role in reducing the buckling of the RC columns.