Concrete and reinforced concrete elements strengthened with HPFRCC

Abstract

The study analyses the behaviour of concrete and reinforced concrete columns strengthened with a High-performance Fiber-reinforced Cementitious Concrete (HPFRCC) jacket. For that purpose, experimental and nonlinear numerical analysis was accomplished. The development of deformations was divided into separate stages at each of which the behaviour of different materials was highlighted. Consequently, an analytical approach to load carrying capacity was proposed. The approach evaluates the elastic, elasto-plastic and pure plastic behaviour of a separate material. According to the proposed method, a possibility of predicting the stiffness of the strengthened element at the desired load level can be considered. The experimental results of all tested columns were compared with numerical results. A comparison of experimentally and numerically predicted deformations showed good coincidence only up to a particular load level. When the decomposition such us cracking of the material starts, inappropriate coincidence can be noticed.