Width Effect of CFRP Strips on the Compressive Behavior of Plain Concrete Cylinders

Abstract

Several experimental studies have been conducted to investigate the influence of fiber-reinforced polymer on confined columns. Most of these studies examine the effect of some variable parameters such as the spacing between strips, the number of layers, the initial strength of concrete and the degree of confinement. This paper is the result of an experimental study on the behavior of plain concrete cylinders (O160 × 320 mm) reinforced with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) layers. The main purpose of this work is to study the influence of strip width of CFRP composite used for reinforcement. Five series of tests were carried out under a cyclic and progressive axial compression loading to failure. Tests were carried out using a compression machine MCC8 of 3000 kN capacity with automatic data acquisition system. In this investigation, the stress–strain curves were plotted in order to determine the stress–strain relationships and to obtain the behavior of the concrete cylinders. In conclusion, it is evident that this study has shown an optimal configuration and an adequate distribution of CFRP composite materials to minimize the utilization of the latter and thus to use it to its ultimate strength and to carry out the ultimate limit state design as well.