Experimental study on seismic behavior of T‐shaped steel fiber reinforced concrete columns

Abstract

AbstractSix T‐shaped columns in which steel fiber concrete is integrated with a high‐strength stirrup (SFRC) and two control specimens are tested under a cyclic lateral load and constant axial load. The effectiveness of the steel fiber concrete and high‐strength stirrup to enhance its ductility and earthquake resistance is described at high‐and low‐axial compression ratios. The failure patterns, hysteresis response, backbone curves, ductility, and strain behavior analysis of the columns are studied systematically in the test. The effects of the stirrup strength, stirrup spacing, steel fiber content, and axial load ratio were investigated. The test results demonstrated that all specimens exhibited flexural failure. Steel fibers could prevent the cracked concrete from spalling. Specimens with high‐strength stirrups, close stirrup spacing, and steel fiber exhibited a higher lateral bearing capacity, energy dissipation capacity, initial stiffness, and displacement ductility. A new strength model for predicting the lateral ultimate capacity of T‐shaped concrete columns strengthened with SFRC subjected to cyclic loading is proposed. The calculated results agree well with the test results. Eight T‐shaped column specimens were simulated using ABAQUS finite element analysis software. A comparison of the results of the numerical study with the experimental results demonstrates that the finite element model can accurately predict the structural behavior.