Axial Testing of Rectangular Column Models Confined with Composites

Abstract

Recent evaluation of civil engineering infrastructure has demonstrated that most of it will need major repairs in the near future. This justifies the development of innovative rehabilitation and strengthening methods for reinforced concrete structures, especially with composite materials. One of these techniques consists of strengthening columns by confinement with a composite enclosure. This paper reports the results of a research program on this topic and concentrates on the behavior of square and rectangular columns confined with carbon and aramid fiber sheets. Results from a series of tests on small-scale specimens showed that confinement increased the strength and ductility of the concrete columns loaded axially.