Strengthening of concrete square column using FRP composites

Abstract

Strength and energy absorption capacity are the important parameter for axially loaded column. This paper investigates the strength of unconfined square concrete column and externally confined square column with fiber-reinforced (FRP) composites with synthetic carbon fiber and natural banana fiber. This type of strengthening of column is widely accepted in practice. Axial strength test is performed on confined square column with different parameters such as number of layers of FRP materials, wrapping patters like full wrapping, center wrapping and hybrid pattern. Both natural and synthetic fibers are used for FRP-confined square concrete column. It was found that external confinement using FRP material improved the axial-load carrying capacity, load-deformation and ductility of the square column compared to the unconfined square column.