STRENGTHENING OF MODIFIED REACTIVE POWDER CONCRETE COLUMNS WITH CFRP

Abstract

An experimental investigation was conducted to investigate the behavior of modified reactiveconcrete (MRPC) columns before and after strengthening with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheetsjacketing under eccentric axial load. Twelve columns were tested up to failure, strengthened and retested toexamine strengthening efficiency and to evaluate the effects of variation of the concrete type (normal or MRPC),presence of steel fibers and main steel reinforcement ratio. Experimental results showed that CFRP jacketingincreases the ultimate failure load of strengthened columns up to 185%, highly stiffens them (reduces lateraldisplacements) and allow more ductile failure than the original columns. Also, inclusion of steel fibers in MRPCcolumns increases failure loads up to 83%, prevents spalling of the concrete cover and increase the ductility.