Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete Short Columns Using Ferrocement Under Axial Loading

Abstract

Reinforced concrete columns play an important role in distributing loads from slabs and beams to foundations. As a result of time, fatigue, or other factors, the reinforced columns are exposed to deterioration, and it is required to strengthen or repair these columns. Ferrocement jacketing can be considered as an easy and cheap method which has a significant effect on strengthening members. The main objective of this research is to study the effect of strengthening short columns using ferrocement jackets. Fourteen short square columns having the same dimensions were tested under axial loading. One column was designed as a control specimen and the other thirteen specimens were strengthened with ferrocement while changing the type and number of layers. It was found that using ferrocement as strengthening method increased the strength of columns in average from 11 to 40 %. Following that, a finite element analysis was conducted using the tested column specimens to further assess the usage of ferrocement jackets for strengthening concrete columns. A modified equation was proposed to calculate the capacity of short square columns strengthened using ferrocement jackets. Comparison with experimental data showed that the proposed equation gives good correlation compared to the experimental data.

Keywords

• ferrocement
• short columns
• strengthening
• finite element modeling
• wire mesh