Experimental and Numerical Study on CFRP-Confined Square Concrete Compression Members Subjected to Compressive Loading

Abstract

Strengthening of the existing structures is an important task that civil engineers continuously face. Compression members, especially columns, being the most important members of any structure, are the most important members to strengthen if the need ever arise. The method of strengthening compression members by direct wrapping by Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) was adopted in this research. Since the concrete material is a heterogeneous and complex in behavior, thus, the behavior of the confined compression members subjected to uniaxial stress is investigated by finite element (FE) models created using Abaqus CAE 2017 software.

The aim of this research is to study experimentally and numerically, the behavior of square plain (without steel reinforcement) concrete compression members, that has concrete strength of  = 24.41 MPa, confined with one layer of CFRP wraps under uniaxial compressive loading. Finally, the outcomes are compared with the finite element models using Abaqus software.

Laboratory experimental results showed that confining compression members with CFRP wraps is an efficient strengthening method. In terms of load carrying capacity, an enhancement was measured for about 56.1% of the reference non-confined members. This enhancement was also reached using Abaqus software.