Experimental Investigation on Seismic Retrofitting of Square RC Columns by Carbon FRP Sheet Confinement Combined with Transverse Short Glass FRP Bars in Bored Holes

Jacketing is less effective to large square/rectangular RC columns due to the inability of the rectangular-shaped jacket in restraining the dilation of concrete in the middle of a straight side. A new retrofit method is proposed in this work by fiber reinforcing the surface concrete in the middle of a straight side. Fiber reinforcing is achieved by inserting small fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars into the concrete in the plastic hinge zone. The inserted FRP bars act as horizontal reinforcement to increase the ductility of the concrete in a similar way as that in normal fiber-reinforced concrete. When this fiber reinforcing technique is combined with the conventional jacketing, the concrete in all parts of a cross section may be effectively confined. In this work, experimental tests were undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of this new retrofit technique. Six half-scaled columns were tested and the test results demonstrated the effectiveness of the method.     

Behavior of FRP Jacketed Concrete Columns under Eccentric Loading

This paper describes a study on the behavior of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) jacketed square concrete columns subjected to eccentric loading. The effect of strain gradient on the behavior of concrete columns confined by the FRP jacket was investigated through experimental and numerical analysis methods. Nine (108 × 108 × 305 mm) square concrete column stubs with zero, one, and two plies of unidirectional carbon FRP fabric were tested under axial compressive loading. In addition to the FRP jacket thickness, the effects of various eccentricities were examined. The nonlinear finite-element analysis results were compared and validated against the experimental test results. The results show that the FRP jacket can greatly enhance the strength and ductility of concrete columns under eccentric loading and that the strain gradient reduces the retrofit efficiency of the FRP jacket for concrete columns. Therefore, a smaller enhancement factor should be used in designing FRP-jacketed columns under eccentric loading. Furthermore, the nonlinear finite-element models established in this study can be used as templates for future research work on FRP-confined concrete columns.     

Use of Microwaves for Damage Detection of Fiber Reinforced Polymer-Wrapped Concrete Structures

Jacketing technology using fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites is being applied for seismic retrofit and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete (RC) columns designed and constructed under older specifications. In this study, the authors develop an electromagnetic (EM) imaging technology for detecting such damage as voids and debonding between the jacket and the column, which may significantly weaken the structural performance of the column otherwise attainable by jacketing. This technology is based on the reflection analysis of a continuous EM wave sent toward and reflected from layered FRP–adhesive-concrete medium: Voids and debonding areas will generate air gaps which produce additional reflections of the EM wave. In this study, dielectric properties of various materials involved in the FRP-jacketed RC column were first measured using a plane-wave reflectometer. The measured properties were then used for a computer simulation of the proposed EM imaging technology. The simulation demonstrated the difficulty in detecting damage by using plane waves, as the reflection contribution from the voids and debonding is very small compared to that from the jacketed column. In order to alleviate this difficulty, dielectric lenses were designed and fabricated, focusing the EM wave on the bonding interface. Finally, three concrete columns were constructed and wrapped with glass–FRP jackets with various voids and debonding conditions artificially introduced in the bonding interface. Using the proposed EM imaging technology involving the especially designed and properly installed lenses, these voids and debonding areas were successfully detected. This technology can be used to assess the jacket bonding quality during the initial jacket installation stage and to detect debonding between the column and the jacket caused by earthquake and other destructive loads.     

Development of a Specification for Bridge Seismic Retrofit with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

The U.S. Interstate 80 bridge over State Street in Salt Lake City is very near the Wasatch fault, which is active and capable of producing large earthquakes. The bridge was designed and built in 1965 according to the 1961 American Association of State Highway Officials specifications, which did not consider earthquake-induced forces or displacements. The bridge consists of reinforced concrete bents supporting steel plate welded girders. The bents are supported on cast-in-place concrete piles and pile caps. A seismic retrofit design was developed using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites, which was implemented in the summer of 2000 and the summer of 2001, to improve the displacement ductility of the bridge. The seismic retrofit included column jacketing, as well as wrapping of the bent cap and bent cap-column joints for confinement, flexural, and shear strength increase. This paper describes the specifications developed for the CFRP composite column jackets and composite bent wrap. The specifications included provisions for materials, constructed thickness based on strength capacity, and an environmental durability reduction factor. Surface preparation, finish coat requirements, quality assurance provisions, which included sampling and testing, and constructability issues regarding the application of fiber composite materials in the retrofit of concrete bridges are also described.     

Behavior of Cyclically Loaded Squat Reinforced Concrete Bridge Columns Upgraded with Advanced Composite-Material Jackets

This paper summarizes comprehensive experimental studies on scaled models of squat bridge columns repaired and retrofitted with advanced composite-material jackets. In the experimental program, a total of 14 half-scale squat circular and rectangular reinforced concrete columns were tested under fully reversed cyclic shear in a double bending configuration. In order to provide a basis for comparison, a total of three as-built columns were tested. Another 10 column samples were tested after being retrofitted with different composite jacket systems. One circular as-built column was repaired after failure. The repair process involved both crack injection as well as addition of carbon/epoxy composite jacket. The repaired column was then retested and evaluated. Experimental results showed that all as-built columns developed an unstable behavior and failed in brittle shear mode. The common failure mode for all retrofitted samples was due to flexure with significant improvement in the column ductility. The repaired column demonstrated ductility enhancement over the as-built sample.     

Confinement Effectiveness of FRP in Retrofitting Circular Concrete Columns under Simulated Seismic Load

The results of a research program that evaluated the confinement effectiveness of the type and the amount of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) used to retrofit circular concrete columns are presented. A total of 17 circular concrete columns were tested under combined lateral cyclic displacement excursions and constant axial load. It is demonstrated that a high axial load level has a detrimental effect and that a large aspect ratio has a positive effect on drift capacity. Compared with the performance of columns that are monotonically loaded until failure, three cycles of every displacement excursion significantly affect drift capacity. The energy dissipation capacity is controlled by FRP jacket confinement stiffness, especially under a high axial load level. The fracture strain of FRP material has no significant impact on the drift capacity of retrofitted circular concrete columns as long as the same confining pressure is provided, which differs from the common opinion that a larger FRP fracture strain is advantageous in seismic retrofitting. The amount of confining FRP greatly affects the length of the plastic hinge region and the drift capacity of FRP-retrofitted columns. A further increase in confinement after a critical value causes a reduction in the deformation capacity of the columns.     

Performance of Axially Loaded Short Rectangular Columns Strengthened with Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Wrapping

This paper presents results of a comprehensive experimental investigation on the behavior of axially loaded short rectangular columns that have been strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) wrap. Six series, a total of 90 specimens, of uniaxial compression tests were conducted on rectangular and square short columns. The behavior of the specimens in the axial and transverse directions is investigated. The parameters considered in this study are (1) the concrete strength; (2) the aspect ratio of the cross section; and (3) the number of CFRP layers. The findings of this research can be summarized as follows: The CFRP wrapping enhances the compressive strength and the ductility of both square and rectangular columns, but to a lesser degree than that of circular columns. The ultimate strength and the ductility of the CFRP confined concrete increase with increasing number of confining layers. The increase in strength and ductility is more significant for lower strength concrete, representing poor or degraded concrete, than for normal-to-high strength concrete; that is, the maximum gain in strength that can be achieved for 3 ksi concrete wrapped columns is approximately 90%, as compared to only 30% for 6 ksi concrete wrapped columns. The CFRP confining jacket must be sufficiently stiff to develop appropriate confining forces at relatively low axial strain levels. The gain in compressive strength obtained by the CFRP confined concrete depends mainly on the relative stiffness of the CFRP jacket to the axial stiffness of the column.     

Experimental Performance of RC Hollow Columns Confined with CFRP

Column jacketing with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials has been extensively investigated in the last decade to address the issue of seismic upgrade and retrofit of existing reinforced concrete (RC) columns. Researchers have mainly focused their attention on solid columns, while very little research has been done on hollow columns strengthened with FRP. To study the behavior of noncircular hollow cross sections subjected to combined axial load and bending and to contribute to the comprehension of the resistant mechanisms present in FRP confinement, a total of seven specimens have been tested. The present work is the first step in a broader endeavor aimed at evaluating the benefits generated by a FRP wrapping, computing (P-M) interaction diagrams for hollow columns confined with FRP, and defining design criteria for the strengthening of these elements using composite jackets. The theoretical analyses will also assess under which conditions the standard approaches for columns with solid cross sections could be extended to the case of hollow columns.     

Numerical Modeling of Concrete Confined by Fiber-Reinforced Composites

Lateral confinement of reinforced concrete columns can significantly increase their lateral deflection capability and load-carrying capacity. While such retrofits were initially completed using steel jackets, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have been used successfully and extensively for seismic and blast upgrades. Numerical modeling of such structures requires the use of a concrete material model that can accurately represent the volumetric behavior of concrete under triaxial stress states, to capture the interaction between concrete expansion and the resulting stress increase in the confining jacket. Test data by Suter and Pinzelli, Karbhari and Gao, and Mirmiran and Shahawy on concrete cylinders and prisms confined by aramid, carbon, and glass FRP sheets are analyzed numerically. The concrete material model used was developed for the study of the effect of blast loading on reinforced concrete structures and was verified and validated for a variety of triaxial stress paths. The numerical analyses closely reproduce the strength enhancements observed in the test specimens for various levels of confinement. The model also confirms the observed inefficiency of low levels of lateral confinement and the superior enhancement provided by circular cross sections as compared to rectangular ones.     

Seismic Behavior and Retrofit of Outrigger Beam-Column Frames

A one-fourth scale outrigger beam-column frame with as-built details was tested to assess its performance under reversed cyclic loading and to develop a retrofit procedure suitable for moderate seismic regions. The ductility of the as-built frame was limited due to pullout of poorly embedded positive moment reinforcement in the joint and shear inadequacy in the joint and beam. Strut-and-tie truss idealizations were developed to aid in predicting the failure mechanism and failure loads. Sectional and nonlinear finite-element analyses were used to predict the performance of the as-built outrigger frames. The retrofit procedure involved fiber-reinforced concrete sleeving of the beam and the joint, together with column jacketing, to enable plastic hinging and energy dissipation to occur in the column. This retrofit solution increased the strength, ductility, and energy absorption of the system. The provision of high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete in the beam sleeve was very effective in controlling the cracks and hence would improve durability.     

Bond Strength of Lap-Spliced Bars in Concrete Confined with Composite Jackets

The effectiveness of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) and textile-reinforced mortar (TRM) jackets was investigated experimentally and analytically in this study to confine old-type reinforced concrete (RC) columns with limited capacity because of bond failure at lap-splice regions. The local bond strength between lap-spliced bars and concrete was measured experimentally along the lap-splice region of six full-scale RC columns subjected to cyclic uniaxial flexure under constant axial load. The bond strength of the two column specimens tested without retrofitting was found to be in good agreement with the predictions given by two existing bond models. These models were modified to account for the contribution of composite material jacketing to the bond resistance between lap-spliced bars and concrete. The effectiveness of FRP and TRM jackets against splitting at lap splices was quantified as a function of jacket properties and geometry as well as in terms of the jacket effective strain, which was found to depend on the ratio of lap-splice length to bar diameter. Consequently, simple equations for calculating the bond strength of lap splices in members confined with composite materials (FRP or TRM) are proposed.     

Seismic Behavior of RC Columns with Bond-Critical Regions: Criteria for Bond Strengthening Using External FRP Jackets

In 2003, an experimental research program was initiated at the American University of Beirut with the objectives of (1) evaluating the effectiveness of external fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) confinement in improving the bond strength of spliced reinforcement in reinforced-concrete (RC) columns and its implications on the lateral load capacity and ductility of the columns under seismic loading; and (2) establishing rational design criteria for bond strengthening of spliced reinforcement using external FRP jackets. This paper presents a discussion of recent experimental results dealing with rectangular columns and the results of a pilot study conducted on circular columns with particular emphasis on aspects related to the bond strength of the spliced column reinforcement. A nonlinear analysis model is developed for predicting the envelope load–drift response, taking into account the effect of FRP confinement on the stress–strain behavior of concrete in compression. Results predicted by the model showed excellent agreement with the test results. Design expressions of the bond strength of spliced bars in FRP-confined concrete were assessed against the current experimental data, and a criterion for seismic FRP strengthening of bond-critical regions in RC members is proposed.     

Residual Performance of FRP-Retrofitted RC Columns after Being Subjected to Cyclic Loading Damage

Numerous recent research findings evidenced the success of retrofitting existing RC columns using fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) jacketing. However, little is known about the residual performance of FRP-retrofitted RC columns following limited seismic damage. In this paper, the residual performance of FRP-retrofitted columns damaged after simulated seismic loading is studied. Eight model columns with a shear aspect ratio of 5.0 were tested first under cyclic lateral force and a constant axial load equal to 20% of the column gross axial load capacity. The main parameters considered were the type of FRP jacket and peak drift ratio where the lateral loading was interrupted. Glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) and carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) were both used for retrofitting. Five of the model columns were subjected to long-term axial loading after being subjected to limited damage by lateral cyclic loading. From the results of long-term loading test, it was found that FRP-retrofitted columns had much smaller creep deformation than the counterpart as-built model. The deformation of retrofitted columns under long-term axial loading depended on the previous damage intensity and the modulus of elasticity of FRP. The effective creep Poisson’s ratios of the retrofitted columns were much smaller than the as-built column but identical for GFRP and CFRP retrofitted columns. Under the testing conditions of this study, the long-term axial deformation of retrofitted columns tends to be sufficiently stable, despite the simulated earthquake damage.     

Retrofitting of Rectangular Columns with Deficient Lap Splices

The cyclic behavior of eight 0.4-scale reinforced concrete column specimens is investigated. The columns incorporated deficient design details to simulate bridge columns built in Washington State prior to 1971. Two columns were tested as reference specimens, five were tested after retrofitting using carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), and one was tested after retrofitting using a conventional steel jacket. All the specimens were tested under constant gravity load and incrementally increasing lateral loading cycles. The specimens had rectangular cross sections with aspect ratios of 1.5 and 2.0. The parameters investigated included the amount of CFRP reinforcement, different retrofitting jacket configurations, and different retrofitting materials. For the as-built specimens, two modes of failure occurred, namely low cyclic fatigue of longitudinal reinforcement and lap splice failure. For the retrofitted specimens, no lap splice failure was observed. All the retrofitted specimens failed due to low cyclic fatigue failure of the longitudinal bars. The retrofitting measures improved the displacement ductility, energy dissipation, and equivalent viscous damping. In addition, increasing the amount of CFRP reinforcement improved the performance of the test specimens.     

Seismic Repair and Strengthening of Lap Splices in RC Columns: Carbon Fiber–Reinforced Polymer versus Steel Confinement

A design approach, developed specifically for seismic bond strengthening of the critical splice region of reinforced concrete columns or bridge piers, is presented and discussed. The approach is based on providing adequate concrete confinement within the splice zone for allowing the spliced bars to theoretically develop enough postelastic tension strains demanded by large earthquakes before experiencing splitting bond failure. The accuracy of the approach was validated experimentally by evaluating the seismic behavior of full-scale gravity load-designed (as-built) rectangular columns that were strengthened or repaired in accordance with the proposed approach. Three types of confinement were used and compared, namely, internal steel ties, external fiber polymer reinforced jackets, and a combination of both. The repaired/strengthened columns developed sizable postyield strains of the spliced bars, considerable increases in the lateral load and drift capacities, and much less concrete damage within the splice zone when compared with the as-built columns. As a further support of the adequacy of the design strengthening approach, the backbone lateral load-drift response of the strengthened columns showed a good agreement with the envelope response generated using nonlinear flexural analysis assuming perfect bond between the column reinforcement and concrete.     

Experimental Evaluation of Axial Behavior of Strengthened Circular Reinforced-Concrete Columns

Insufficient or deteriorating reinforced-concrete piers in many existing bridges are required to be strengthened using economical, fast, and efficient methods. Currently, only a few methods can be used to strengthen circular columns. Steel jackets and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are the two commonly used methods. In this study, along with these two strengthening methods, concrete jackets reinforced with spiral rebar, welded wire fabric (WWF), and a new steel reinforcement called PCS are investigated under different axial-load applications. Fifteen identical specimens were constructed, strengthened, and tested: one column with no strengthening; three columns strengthened with FRP; two with steel jacketing; and nine with concrete jacketing (two with WWF, three with spiral rebar, and four with the new reinforcement). The bare or unretrofitted specimens had a 152?mm (6?in.) diameter, while the outside diameter of concrete-jacketed specimens was 254?mm (10?in.). Effectiveness of each strengthening method in increasing the stiffness, axial capacity, and displacement ductility was investigated using the experimental data.     

Theoretical Model for Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Confined Concrete

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have found increasingly wide applications in civil engineering due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and high corrosion resistance. One important application of FRP composites is as a confining material for concrete, particularly in the strengthening or seismic retrofit of existing reinforced concrete columns by the provision of a FRP jacket. FRP confinement can enhance both the compressive strength and the ultimate strain of concrete significantly. This paper presents a new stress–strain model for FRP-confined concrete in which the responses of the concrete core and the FRP jacket as well as their interaction are explicitly considered. Such a model is often referred to as an analysis-oriented model. The key novel feature of the proposed analysis-oriented model, compared to existing models of the same kind, is a more accurate and more widely applicable lateral strain equation based on a careful interpretation of the lateral deformation characteristics of unconfined, actively confined, and FRP-confined concrete. Through comparisons with independent test data, the proposed model is shown to be accurate not only for FRP-confined concrete but also for concrete confined with a steel tube, demonstrating the wide applicability of the model to concrete confined with different confining materials. The accuracy of the proposed model is also shown to be superior to existing analysis-oriented stress-strain models through comparisons with test data.     

Bridge Seismic Retrofitting Practices in the Central and Southeastern United States

This paper conducts a detailed review of the seismic hazard, inventory, bridge vulnerability, and bridge retrofit practices in the Central and Southeastern United States (CSUS). Based on the analysis of the bridge inventory in the CSUS, it was found that over 12,927 bridges (12.6%) are exposed to 7% probability of exceedance (PE) in 75-year peak ground acceleration (PGA) of greater than 0.20 g, and nearly 3.5% of bridges in the CSUS have a 7% PE in 75-year PGA of greater than 0.50 g. Since many of the bridges in this region were not designed with explicit consideration of the seismic hazard, many of them are in need of seismic retrofitting to reduce their seismic vulnerability. While several of the states in the CSUS have retrofitted some of their bridges, systematic retrofit programs do not currently exist. The review of retrofit practices in the region indicates that the most common retrofit approaches in the CSUS include the use of restrainer cables, isolation bearings, column jacketing, shear keys, and seat extenders. The paper presents an overview of the common approaches and details used for the aforementioned retrofit measures. This paper serves as a useful tool for bridge engineers in the CSUS as they begin to perform systematic retrofit of vulnerable bridges in the region.     

Introspection on improper seismic retrofit of Basilica Santa Maria di Collemaggio after 2009 Italian earthquake

The 2009 L'Aquila, Italy earthquake highlighted the seismic vulnerability of historic masonry building structures due to improper "strengthening" retrofit work that has been done in the last 50 years. Italian seismic standards recommend the use of traditional reinforcement techniques such as replacing the original wooden roof structure with new reinforced concrete (RC) or steel elements, inserting RC tie-beams in the masonry and new RC floors, and using RC jacketing on the shear walls. The L'Aquila earthquake revealed the numerous limitations of these interventions, because they led to increased seismic forces (due to greater additional weight) and to deformation incompatibilities of the incorporated elements with the existing masonry walls. This paper provides a discussion of technical issues pertaining to the seismic retrofit of the Santa Maria di Collemaggio Basilica and in particular, the limitations of the last (2000) retrofit intervention. Considerable damage was caused to the church because of questionable actions and incorrect and improper technical choices.