Concrete columns confined by fiber composite wraps under combined axial and cyclic lateral loads

This paper presents nonlinear finite element analysis of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) jacketed reinforced concrete columns under combined axial and cyclic lateral loadings. Large-scale control and FRP-wrapped reinforced concrete columns (762 mm in diameter and 4978 mm in height) were modeled using the nonlinear finite element analysis software MARC™. The models were capable of allowing for the degradation of the stiffness under cyclic loading. The finite element analysis results indicated that reinforced concrete columns externally wrapped with the FRP fabric in the potential plastic hinge location at the bottom of the column showed significant improvement in both strength and ductility capacities, and the FRP jacket could be used to delay the degradation of the stiffness of reinforced concrete columns.