Experimental study of the strengthening effect of reinforced concrete columns jacketed under service load level

Abstract

The need of structural retrofitting and strengthening of different buildings, engineering structures or their elements is always present. Among the main reasons are demages and material deterioration due to aging, improper maintenance or physical damages; planed repairs; reconstruction or extension of the building; technical modification or complete change of operations inside the building or the structure, etc. In some cases operation of the building during retrofitting or strengthening of its structures has to be partially or fully stopped. In other cases the strengthening process takes place while the building is still operational which means that structures are strengthened under service loads. The main goal of this research is to determine the strengthening effect of reinforced concrete jacketing applied to columns under service load level. For that the experimental study of six reinforced concrete columns were carried out: four reference columns, both strengthened by jacketing and unstrengthened and two strengthened under service load. The main results of the research are presented.