Variable Strain Ductility Ratio for Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Confined Concrete

The encasement of concrete in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite jackets can significantly increase the compressive strength and strain ductility of concrete columns and the structural system of which the columns are a part, be it a building or a bridge. Due to the approximate bilinear compressive behavior of FRP-confined concrete, analysis and design of FRP-confined concrete members requires an accurate estimate of the performance enhancement due to the confinement provided by FRP composite jackets. An analytical model is presented for predicting the bilinear compressive behavior of concrete confined with either bonded or nonbonded FRP composite jackets. This article describes the basis of the model, which is a variable plastic strain ductility ratio. The variable plastic strain ductility ratio defines the increase in plastic compressive strain relative to the increase in the plastic compressive strength of the FRP-confined concrete, which is a function of the hoop stiffness of the confining FRP composite jacket, the plastic dilation rate, and the type of bond between the FRP composite and concrete.