Seismic Behavior of RC Shear Walls Strengthened with Fiber-Reinforced Polymer

Abstract

AbstractThis paper investigates the seismic behavior of RC shear walls strengthened by using carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. Three RC shear walls were tested: one control wall and two walls strengthened by fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), using two different strengthening schemes. The walls were tested when subjected to a constant axial load along with synchronized cyclic moment and shear force at the top of the tested panel. The primary purpose of the FRP retrofit schemes was to increase the flexural and shear capacities of wall panels that experienced higher seismic demands than the design ones. The walls represent the sixth story panel of an eight-story RC, moderately ductile, shear wall designed according to the 2005 National Building Code of Canada. Reported shake table tests on two eight-story walls demonstrated the increase in the demand in higher story levels as a result of the effect of higher modes of vibration, which calls for increasing the capacity of the walls at a high flo...