Compressive Behavior of Concrete Confined by Mechanism-Based Fiber Composite Bistable Structure

Abstract

The application of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in civil engineering has advanced drastically in recent years, especially in the retrofit of concrete bridge columns. However, composite’s typical nonductile behavior and low-energy absorption are some of the concerns that have yet to be fully addressed. The objective of this research is to investigate a new mechanism-based bistable composite structure as the wrapping system for concrete columns to improve the energy absorption and damage tolerance. The bistable structure consists of energy-absorbing main links (primary load carrier) and waiting links (secondary load carrier to be activated after main link fails). A series of uniaxial compression tests on cylindrical concrete members wrapped with hybrid carbon-glass FRP bistable structure were conducted to demonstrate the concept and study the effect caused by link geometry. The results showed that a controlled failure with signs of failure (warning) was achieved in the system and both the ducti...