International Concrete Abstracts Portal

Title: Seismic Retrofit of Reinforced Concrete Beam-Column T-Joints in Bridge Piers with FRP Composite Jackets

Author(s): Chris P. Pantelides and Janos Gergely

Publication: Special Publication

Volume: 258

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1-18

Keywords: beam-column joints, bridges, design, experiments, fiber reinforced polymer composites, piers

Date: 12/1/2008

Abstract:
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.