Seismic cyclic loading test of SRC columns confined with 5-spirals

Presented herein is an experimental study on seismic resistance of rectangular steel reinforced concrete (SRC) columns confined with a new type of multi-spiral cage. The multi-spiral cage is a device of five interconnected spirals, named “5-spirals”, with a large spiral at the center and four small ones at the corners. The innovation of applying the 5-spirals to SRC column is to take its superiority in concrete confinement and efficiency in automatic production for the precast construction industry. Four full-scale SRC columns were tested under horizontal cyclic loading. All of the tested columns were capable of sustaining a drift angle up to 6% radians. The hysteresis loops observed from the cyclic loading tests indicated that the spirally confined SRC columns demonstrated excellent performances in both strength and ductility. The test results suggested that with significant saving of the confinement steel, the newly innovated 5-spirals can be successfully applied to the precast rectangular SRC columns.