Structural behaviors of deficient steel SHS short columns strengthened using CFRP

Abstract

This paper presents the experimental and numerical investigations on the structural behaviors of steel square hollow section (SHS) compression members having initial horizontal or vertical deficiencies which were strengthened using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) sheets. One non-strengthened control column and twelve specimens with different lengths and orientation of deficiencies were investigated. Eight of the deficient specimens were repaired using CFRP sheets. To study the effects of CFRP strengthening method on recovering the strength-lost in the deficient specimens, both experimental test and simulation modeling methods were used. In the experimental test, axial static gradual loading was utilized. To simulate the specimens, three dimensional (3D) modeling and non-linear static analysis methods using ABAQUS software were applied. The results indicated that application of CFRP sheets for strengthening of deficient steel short SHS columns could recover the strength-lost due to deficiency, significantly. Increment on the load-bearing capacity and delaying local buckling were also observed. Good accurateness between the experimental and numerical results were seen.