Experimental tests on RC hollow columns strengthened with FRPs

ABSTRACT

The paper presents a study conducted on five specimens designed and realized with rectangular hollow cross section and subjected to compression-bending action. The design of the specimens aimed at reproducing dimensions and characteristics of real members scaled with a reduction factor of 5. Three samples matched the guidelines of old Italian design codes,while the others were characterized by insufficient lap-splices of the longitudinal steel bars. One

column for each group was not retrofitted and used as a control specimen. The remaining specimens were externally wrapped with CFRP and tested in order to study the influence of two parameters on the structural behavior of the column: the FRP number of plies and the lap-splice degree. The obtained results confirm that significant improvement in ductility and energy absorption capacity can be achieved as a result of the investigated retrofitting technique.