EFFECT OF ASPECT RATIO ON THE BEHAVIOR OF GFRP-RC CIRCULAR COLUMNS UNDER SIMULATED SEISMIC LOADING

Abstract

The mechanical and physical properties of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcement are different from steel, which requires independent code provisions for GFRP-reinforced concrete (RC) members. The currently available code provisions for GFRP-RC members still need more research evidence to be inclusive. For example, the available provisions for confinement reinforcement of FRP-RC columns do not consider the effects of column aspect ratio, which is not yet supported by any available research data. In this study, two full-scale spirally reinforced GFRP-RC circular columns were constructed and tested under concurrent seismic and axial loads. Both specimens had an aspect ratio (shear span-to-diameter ratio) of 7.0, while other two specimens with an aspect ratio of 5.0, from a previous stage of this study, were included for comparison purposes. For each aspect ratio, each specimen was loaded under one of two levels of axial load; 20 or 30% of the axial load capacity of the column section. All test specimens had a 35 MPa concrete compressive strength, 350-mm diameter, 85-mm spiral pitch and 1.2% longitudinal reinforcement ratio. The experimental results were analyzed in terms of hysteretic response, drift capacity and inelastic deformability hinge length. Based on the experimental results, it can be concluded that the aspect ratio affects the magnitude of secondary moments and inelastic deformability hinge length. In addition, the aspect ratio may affect drift capacity of GFRP-RC columns, depending on axial load level.