Lateral force-displacement ductility relationship of non-ductile squat RC columns rehabilitated using FRP confinement

Abstract

Post-earthquake reconnaissance and experimental research indicate that squat reinforced concrete (RC) columns in existing buildings or bridge piers are vulnerable to non-ductile shear failure. Recently, several experimental studies were conducted to investigate upgrading the shear resistance capacity of such columns in order to modify their failure mode to ductile one. Among these upgrading methods is the use of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) jackets. One of the preferred analytical tools to simulate the response of frame structures to earthquake loading is the lumped plasticity macromodels due to their computational efficiency and reasonable accuracy. In these models, the columns' nonlinear response is lumped at its ends. The most important input data for such type of models is the element's lateral force-displacement backbone curve. The objective of this study is to verify an analytical method to predict the lateral force-displacement ductility relationship of axially and laterally loaded rectangular RC squat columns retrofitted with FRP composites. The predicted relationship showed good accuracy when compared with tests available in the literature.