Strengthening of square hollow steel sections using carbon fibre reinforced polymer strips subjected by compression

Abstract

Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) sheets provided better results on concrete elements both strengthening and repair techniques till recent era. Therefore, it is now increasingly used for various strengthening and retrofitting methods in steel members. SHS members are largely affected by severe environmental disorder (corrosion) and buckling. Current experimental work focuses on strengthening of SHS members using Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) sheets under axial compression. SHS members are of height 600 mm and the dimensions of 91.5 × 91.5 mm used for the current study. Two SHS members are acted as control member and remaining six were confined by one layer, two layers and three layers of CFRP strips. CFRP sheets are used as strips format of 30 mm and 50 mm width respectively, and the spacing between the consecutive layers are kept 20 mm constant. All the members are tested till their failure and the corresponding deformation up to the fibre rupture were monitored. From the collected data, we should understand the failure mode, stress strain characteristics, axial deformation, load increment and ductility. Also suggest the optimum wrapping scheme for the strengthening of SHS members.