Influence of FRP-to-Concrete Gap Effect on Axial Strains of FRP-Confined Concrete Columns

Abstract

This paper reports on an experimental investigation on the influence of FRP-to-concrete interface gap, caused by concrete shrinkage, on axial compressive behavior of concrete-filled FRP tube (CFFT) columns. A total of 12 aramid FRP (AFRP)-confined concrete specimens with circular cross-sections were manufactured. 3 of these specimens were instrumented to monitor long term shrinkage strain development and the remaining 9 were tested under monotonic axial compression. The influence of concrete shrinkage was examined by applying a gap of up to 0.06 mm thickness at the FRP-to-concrete interface, simulating 800 microstrain of shrinkage in the radial direction. Axial strain recordings were compared on specimens instrumented with two different measurement methods: full-and mid-height linear variable displacement transformers (LVDTs). Results of the experimental study indicate that the influence of interface gap on stress-strain behavior is significant, with an increase in interface gap resulting in a decrease and increase in the compressive strength and ultimate axial strain, respectively. It was also observed that an increase in interface gap leads to a slight loss in axial stress at the transition region of the stress-strain curve. Finally, it is found that an increase in the interface gap results in a significant decrease in the ratio of the ultimate axial strains obtained from mid-section and full-height LVDTs.