A simple hysteretic model is proposed to define the cyclic response of reinforced concrete (RC) beam to column joints retrofitted with (carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. This model includes the option to consider strength degradation resulting from damage within the joint region. The model consists of two nonlinear springs connected in series and positioned at the ends of linear elastic beam elements. The hysteretic models representing these springs were empirically derived from beam to column joint specimens retrofitted with CFRP composites and are capable of describing the hysteretic characteristics of reinforced concrete members in the column as well as in the joint hinge region. The model was subsequently used to evaluate the response of two test units that were retrofitted with CFRP composites at different damage levels. Key experimental results along with the proposed models and simulation results are presented and discussed in this paper. The analytical results were able to reproduce reasonably well the experimental data.

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on the axial behavior of medium and large scale Reinforced Concrete (RC) columns of circular and non-circular cross-sections strengthened with unidirectional Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) wraps. A test matrix was developed to investigate the effect of different variables, such as the geometry of the specimen cross-section (circular, square, and rectangular), the side aspect ratio, and the area aspect ratio. A total of 22 specimens were divided into six series of three specimens each and two series of two specimens each. The largest and smallest columns featured cross-sectional areas of 0.8 m2 (9 ft2) and 0.1 m2 (1 ft2), respectively. All the specimens were subjected to pure axial compressive loading. The experimental results are compared with available data on RC specimens with one minimum dimension of the cross-section of 300 mm (12 in.). This evaluation allowed confirming that among circular and non-circular specimens of the same cross-sectional area and FRP volumetric ratio, the level of confinement effectiveness decreases as the side aspect ratio increases. Additionally, size effect within specimens of circular cross-section does not appear to be significant; however, for the case of non-circular specimens, scatter and limitation of data-points does not allow at the present time to draw a definite conclusion. A new analytical method that allowed estimating the confining pressure in non-circular cross-sections from the transverse strains at the corners is proposed. The obtained confining pressures and experimental results from this study allowed calibrating a strength model, which was validated with the available experimental data in the literature. Finally, the predictions of this strength model were compared to the ones by the model of Lam and Teng yielding close agreement.

The research described encompasses laboratory as well as in-situ testing of reinforced concrete beam-column joints and multicolumn bridge piers rehabilitated with FRP composite jackets. Fourteen RC beam-column joint tests were performed and a design equation was developed which determines the thickness of the FRP composite jacket and the orientation of the fibers for maximum effectiveness in enhancing shear capacity and ductility. Several in-situ tests were conducted at the South Temple Bridge in Salt Lake City, which included a three-column bridge pier without an FRP composite seismic retrofit, a pier retrofitted with FRP composite jackets, and a pier retrofitted with FRP composite jackets and a reinforced concrete grade beam. The design of the seismic retrofit was based on rational criteria, which included the design of the foundation and column retrofit, and the design equation for retrofitting reinforced concrete beam-column joints, developed in the laboratory tests. The performance target for the seismic retrofit was a displacement ductility twice that of the pier without the FRP composite retrofit. The FRP composite jacket was able to strengthen the cap beam-column joints of the pier effectively and the displacement ductility was increased to the designed level.

This paper presents the performance of a full-scale reinforced concrete cor¬ner beam-column-slab specimen that was first severely damaged under bidirectional quasi-static loading, then rehabilitated and retested. The specimen was built using the pre-1970s construction practices including the use of low-strength materials ( =3000 psi [21 MPa], Grade 40 reinforcing bars) and deficiencies in reinforcement detailing. The rehabilitation process consisted of: (1) epoxy injection, (2) addition of a bar within the clear cover of the column at the inside corner, and (3) external application of a multilayer composite system made of unidirectional carbon-epoxy layers placed at different orienta¬tions. The carbon fiber-reinforced polymeric system was heat-cured at a temperature of 80°±10°C (176°±18°F) for 6 hours. The performance was evaluated both before and after rehabilitation based on the progression of damage and the hysteretic behavior including the changes in the strength, stiffness, and energy dissipation characteristics. The results indicated that even a severely damaged corner joint can be effectively rehabilitated using CFRP to achieve a ductile beam failure mechanism. The joint was upgraded to withstand story drift ratios of up to 3.7% applied simultaneously in both directions.

The effectiveness of discrete and continuous CFRP wrapping arrangements for reinforced concrete (RC) short column subjected to monotonic and cyclic compressive loading is assessed in this work. The experimental program is composed of four series of RC columns with discrete wrapping arrangements and one series of full wrapped RC columns. Each series is composed of a monotonic and a cyclic test. Strain gauges were installed along the height of each column to measure the strain field in the CFRP during the test. The variation of the stiffness of the unloading and reloading branches of each loading cycle was determined. A constitutive model to simulate FRP-confined RC concrete elements subjected to cyclic compressive loading was developed and implemented into a computer program based on the finite element method. This model was appraised with the data obtained from the carried out experimental program.