| Abstract: | Use of the FRP has been incorporated into design guidelines. Detailed probabilistic information to support selected resistance factors in code calibration exercises for Canadian design codes for the design of FRP-confined RC columns is currently lacking. Furthermore, since new load factors and companion load combination formats have been implemented in the 2005 edition of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC), verification and calibration of the material resistance factors to be used for the design of the FRP-confined concrete columns are desirable. The objective of this study is to verify the adequacy of and/or calibrate the concrete resistance factor φc for FRP-confined RC columns. Analysis results suggest that to gain economic efficiency and without compromising safety levels, φc = 0.75 in designing the FRP-confined RC columns can be adopted to achieve the 50 year target reliability index of about 3.5. |
