Experimental and numerical investigation of seismic retrofitting of RC square short columns using FRP composites

Abstract

Shear failure is the major factor involved in the failure of structures and may occur in short columns. In this article, six reinforced concrete short columns are prepared and experimentally and numerically investigated using finite element analysis under cyclic lateral displacement. Since the failure occurred in short columns under earthquake is in the form of shear and brittle failures, several new techniques are proposed to strengthen short columns under lateral loads. These techniques include externally bonded reinforcement with carbon fibre reinforced polymer sheets in the form of transverse, diagonal and hybrid strengthening techniques. The experimental and numerical results demonstrate that the mentioned strengthening techniques in short columns lead to the change in the failure mode from shear to flexural and the change in the cracking and failure patterns of columns. The mentioned strengthening methods lead to the increase in the ductility, load carrying capacity, and dissipated energy.