Retrofitting of RC beam-column joints using FRP laminates
A seminar report submitted to the
National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
for the partial fulfillment of the degree
of
Master of Technology
by
ASHUTOSH SAHOO
(222CE2254)
CIVIL ENGINERING DEPARTMENT,
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, ROURKELA
CONTENTS
Title page
Contents
List of figures
Chapter Description
No.
1 ABSTRACT
2 INTRODUCTION
3 LITRERATURE REVIEW
3.1. BRIEF REVIEW OF EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION
3.2. BRIEF REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL AND FINITE
ELEMENT MODELS
3.3. SUMMARY OF THE EXISTING RESEARCH WORKS
4 EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
4.1. TEST SPECIMEN
4.2. TEST SETUP AND PROCEDURE
4.3. MODE OF FAILURE
4.4. COMPARISON OF RESULTS FROM BOTH
ANALYTICAL AND NUMERICAL METHODS
5 SUMMARY
6 REFERENCES
LIST OF FIGURES
Fig. No. Figure Caption
1 Details of retrofitting scheme for RO specimen (all dimensions in mm)
2 Dimensions and reinforcement details of joint specimens
3 Schematic of test setup
4 Damage pattern in (a) specimen OC and (b) specimen RO
5 Comparison between the numerical monotonic pushover and
experimental cyclic backbone curves of the non-retrofitted and retrofitted
specimens.
CHAPTER 1
ABSTRACT
Joints made of reinforced concrete have frequently been upgraded or retrofitted using fibre
reinforced polymer (FRP). Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of this composite
system in improving the performance of weak RC joints. One of the most efficient ways to improve
RC beam-column joints and avoid the formation of unfavourable weak-column strong-beams
mechanisms is to move the plastic hinge from the column face towards the beam. Through the
relocation of plastic hinges away from the beam-column connections, this study will examine the
effectiveness of FRP retrofits in enhancing the performance of the beam to column joints. The
joints under study are chosen from RC frames with intermediate ductility values as the basis for
design. The nonlinear finite element analysis is performed using the well-known finite element
programme ANSYS. In order to relocate the plastic hinge, various FRP application configurations,
including a unique arrangement at beam-column joints, are evaluated, and the effectiveness of each
composite architecture is examined. The length and thickness of the FRP are the variables that are
investigated for each approach. The findings demonstrate that the suggested structure is not only
able to relocate plastic hinges and increase the joints' capacity to bear loads, but also shields against
the early failure of de-bonding. The experimental experiments have also supported the latter.
CHAPTER 2
INTRODUCTION
Beam-column joints, which connect a beam to a column in a reinforced concrete (RC) structure,
are major factor of the structure for failures. Most old buildings, which are comprised of RC
column-beam structures and built to previous codes, are potentially seismically unstable. The
noncompliance of these structures with code guidelines makes them especially vulnerable to
failure due to dynamic loads. Major flaws in structures include insufficient transverse
reinforcement in the beam-column joint and poor detailing required for cyclic loading design.
In order to provide them adequate strength and ductility to resist the forces retrofitting is done.
Many techniques for retrofitting RC joints have been introduced, including shotcrete jacketing,
cast-in-place concrete/RC jacketing, steel jacketing, stiffened steel plates, epoxy injection
repair, using near surface FRP laminates/bars, and using externally bonded FRP laminates.
Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) is now being used in civil engineering structures that were
largely confined previously to aviation structures. In last two decades the use of FRP in
retrofitting of reinforced concrete structures are being popularized. It is due to the properties of
FRP i.e., immune to corrosion, low weight, heavy strength and high stiffness to weight ratio
over other retrofitting material.
Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) used in civil engineering are of following types
1. Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)
2. Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP)
3. Boron Fibre Reinforced Polymer (BFRP)
CHAPTER 3
LITERATURE REVIEW
IN addition to experimental results for beam column joints using FRP, finite element modelling
is present in literature. Most of the finite element studies are 2 dimensional rather than making
it 3 dimensional due to the increase in computational cost for model.
3.1 BRIEF REVIEW OF EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION
(Mostofinejad & Hajrasouliha, 2018) investigated the shear retrofitting of 3D RC joints . To
assess the effectiveness of the L-shaped retrofitting pattern in postponing surface debonding
and delamination, samples were retrofitted using the grooving method and CFRP fans. to use
When compared to the control specimen, the EBROG method increased the load-carrying
capacity and ductility of the RC joints by up to 38 and 69 percent, respectively. A comparison
of the maximum loads at 4.5 percent drift revealed that the EBROG technique combined with
CFRP fans prevented any load reduction until the test was terminated. The externally bonded
reinforcement on groove (EBROG) technique to delay the debonding of CFRP sheets from the
concrete substrate, and the hysteretic response of 3D corner joints strengthened through the
EBROG method was analysed.
(Maheri & Torabi, 2019) conducted experimental and numerical studies on flange and
webbonded FRP retrofitting schemes for external Reinforced Concrete joints of moment
resisting frames are presented in this paper. With the right number of FRP laminate plies and
overlay length, it is possible to successfully relocate a plastic hinge away from the face of the
column and into the beam. they have also discovered that as the length of the FRP laminate
over the beam flange increases, so does the joint strength; however, a greater number of plies
would be required for plastic hinge relocation.
(Allam et al., 2019) studied the effect of high-strength carbon/epoxy fiber reinforced polymer,
E-glass/epoxy fiber reinforced polymer, high-modulus carbon/epoxy reinforced polymer and
high-strength carbon fiber reinforced polymer on Increased joint shear strength and ductility,
improved column confinement under reversal cyclic loading, and increased ultimate capacity
of the beam against potential bottom rebars reinforcement bond slip. It was found that the test
setup was capable of capturing the shear deficiency behaviour of the beam-column joint and
the enhancement in its behaviour after retrofit.
(Attari et al., 2019) carried out an experimental investigation to study the effect of the
performance of glass and hybrid strengthening systems, which are less expensive than carbon
fibre composites. It was discovered while using a hybrid sheet (Glass-Carbon) greatly improves
the ductility and dissipation energy of the RC joints. they also studied the deformability of the
specimen’s following reinforcement in order to improve the seismic behaviour of RC
beamcolumn joints.
(Obaidat et al., 2019) conducted an experimental study that used (CFRP) plates to repair
partially damaged RC beam-column joints. The investigation was primarily concerned with the
behaviour of repaired RC beam-column joints subjected to cyclic loading using a variety of
retrofitting schemes. Under cyclic loading, the control specimen was tested to failure which
changed the failure modes from diagonal cracking to debonding of CFRP plates. Seven
specimens were loaded to a certain load level, which was approximately 80% of the expected
failure load (known as preload). They were then retested after being repaired with various
CFRP-plate schemes.it was seen that the load capacity of the retrofitted joint was significantly
improved by 64%-148% compared to the control sample.
3.2 BRIEF REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL AND FINITE ELEMENT MODELS
For the analysis of composite plates, A 3-dimensional model is required in order to consider
effects like secondary moments etc. proposed an analytical model and design approach for
strengthening external beam–column joints with web-bonded FRP. They employed a number
of experimental test results to assess the efficacy of the model that is recommended According
to their research, the basic theoretical approach, as well as the use of experimentally determined
parameters, result in their models are suitable for real-world applications.
(Niroomandi et al., 2010) evaluated the seismic performance of an 8-storey ordinary RC frame
using web-bonded CFRP retrofitting technique on the joints. Their results showed that the
lateral load resisting capacity, over-strength and seismic behaviour factor of the retrofitted
frame could be increased by 40%, 66% and100%, respectively.they also performed a study on
two and four storey ordinary moment resisting frames retrofitted at their joints with webbonded
CFRP technique. Their findings revealed a significant improvement in the lateral resistance
capacity, seismic behaviour factor, stiffness, and performance level of retrofitted frames.
Although a web-bonded CFRP retrofitting scheme could be used for planar structures, due to
the presence of perpendicular beams and integrated slabs in real 3D structures, the webbonded
technique appears impractical.
(Zarandi and Maheri 2015) compared the seismic performance of the 8-story ordinary RC frame
studied by( Niroomandi et al. 2010) to the effects of web-bonded and flange-bonded retrofitting
schemes. The results showed that the flange-bonded scheme was clearly superior to the web-
bonded scheme in many aspects, including applicability to real 3D frames, capacity, ductility,
performance level, and cost. (Azarm et al.2017) used flange-bonded FRP to retrofit deficient
joints in a moderate ductility moment resisting frame. (Faleschini et al. 2019) recently reported
on the successful repair of severely damaged RC exterior beam-column joints using FRP and
FRCM composites.
3.3 SUMMARY OF THE EXISTING RESEARCH WORKS
A brief review of existing research on retrofitting of the beam column joint are prepared out.
• This review focuses on beam-column joint specimens with typical design flaws that
have been retrofitted with FRP and tested under cyclic loading. Excluded are research
papers that only consider static loading, as well as experimental specimens designed in
accordance with modern seismic design codes.
• A database of experimental work on the seismic FRP strengthening of RC beamcolumn
joints in buildings has been compiled to aid in a critical and systematic review of the
literature.
• Several data were recorded during the review of the existing literature, including the
type of deficiencies in the control specimen, the geometry and size of the specimens,
the properties of the material (concrete, steel, FRP), details on the FRP reinforcing (
fibre type, number of layers, dimensions, surface preparation,), and details on the
experimental set-up, loading, equipment, and available results of the research.
CHAPTER 4
EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
4.1. TEST SPECIMEN
(Maheri & Torabi, 2019) tested two external RC beam-column joints that are separated at the
points of inflection of beam-column joint from a typical four-story residential RC building (see
Fig. 1), constructed as an ordinary moment resisting frame based onSeismic provisions in
ACI318M-11 . The experiment was completed to assess the performance and behaviour of the
external beam-column joint after it has been retrofitted with FRP laminates One of the
specimens (OC) was not retrofitted to serve as a control specimen, and the FRP hybrid flange
and webbonded scheme was retrofitted to the other joint (RO).
Fig. 1. Details of retrofitting scheme for RO specimen (all dimensions in mm)
(Fig. 2. Dimensions and reinforcement details of joint specimens.)
Figure 2 depicts the dimensions and reinforcement details of the non-retrofitted, full-scale joint
model (OC) and its conjugate FRP retrofitted joint (RO). Using standard cylinder test data, the
joint specimens were built with normal weight concrete with a maximum aggregate size of 19
mm and a measured compressive strength of 25.9 MPa. Tensile tests on longitudinal and
transverse reinforcements revealed average yield strengths of 411 MPa and 350 MPa, as well
as average ultimate strengths of 608 MPa and 510 MPa, respectively, the dimensions and
reinforcement details of the retrofitted specimen (RO) were identical to those of the
nonretrofitted control specimen (OC). Figure 3 depicts the scheme used on the retrofitted
specimen (RO). SikaWrap-300C, a unidirectional, woven carbon fibre fabric for dry and wet
application processes, was used as the CFRP laminate. Tensile strength of fibres, fFRP = 3900
MPa, modulus of elasticity E = 230 GPa, and fabric-ply thickness = 0.17 mm are manufacturer
specifications for material properties and thickness. To attach the CFRP layers to the concrete
surfaces, the surface was first primed with the high-strength epoxy Sikadur-330, which was
applied with a brush to completely saturate the substrate. Sikadur-330 is a solvent-free,
thixotropic epoxy-based impregnating resin/adhesive that comes in two parts.
Two L-shaped, five-ply thick CFRP laminates were placed on both corners of the joint in the
RO specimen, as shown in Fig. 1. The length of the CFRP laminates along each column and
beam was 100 mm and 150 mm, respectively. These lengths are less than the ACI 440.2R-08.
To avoid early debonding of the CFRP laminate due to a lack of development length, five-ply
CFRP wraps (similar in thickness to L shape CFRP laminates) were used to provide the
necessary anchorage, as shown in Fig. 1.
4.2. TEST SETUP AND PROCEDURE
Figure 3 depicts a schematic view of the test setup, including specimen supports and other key
test components. It also depicts a general view of the test setup. Due to the loading frame's
height limitation, the specimens were rotated by 90° so that the columns were positioned
horizontally. The top of the vertically standing beam was connected to a hydraulic actuator via
a hinge connector to simulate the inflection point support condition at the top of the beam, and
roller supports were built and attached to the ends of the columns to simulate the required
support condition at these locations as well. The columns' two ends were thus controlled for
both vertical and horizontal movement, while their rotations were not. To apply cyclic loading
to the end of the beam, a hydraulic actuator with a loading capacity of 200 kN and a
displacement range of 150 mm was used. A hydraulic jack was also placed at the end of one
column to simulate gravity.
The horizontal displacements of the beam were recorded during the tests using three linear
variable displacement transducers (LVDTs (1) to (3)), as shown in Fig. 3. Another LVDT was
placed at one end of the column to measure any rigid body motion that may have occurred
during the tests, which proved insignificant. Beam longitudinal reinforcement strains were
measured with six steel strain gauges (SSG) attached at various points along the beam rebar, as
shown in Fig. 3. In addition, four concrete strain gauges (CSG) were attached to the beam
concrete surface to record concrete strains during the tests (Fig. 4)
Figure 3 depicts the quasistatic cyclic loading applied to the joint specimens. In order to evaluate
stiffness degradation, the displacement-controlled loading cycle sequence consists of three full
cycles at each drift ratio followed by a single half cycle. An initial drift ratio of 0.20 percent
was chosen to be within the specimens' linear elastic response range. Following that, the drift
ratios were increased by 25% to 50%. The gradually increasing drift ratio was applied over 13
cycle sets, culminating in a maximum drift ratio of 6.0 percent, which is greater than the
minimum drift ratio of 3.5 percent. The drift ratio was calculated using the effective length of
the beam of 1550 mm. before Applying cyclic loading, an axial load of 235 kN, which meets
the minimum requirement of ACI 318–14, was applied to the columns and continued
throughout the tests to simulate gravity load.
(Fig. 3. Schematic of test setup.)
4.3. MODE OF FAILURE
(Maheri & Torabi, 2019) in their investigation in Figures 4.a and 4.b show the final state and
failure patterns of the original (OC) and retrofitted (RO) joint specimens at 13 different loading
steps (drift ratio levels). The first flexural crack appeared in earlier stages of step 2 for the OC
specimen, corresponding to a drift ratio of 0.25. The crack appeared in the beam, approximately
150 mm from the face of the column. The first hair crack in a RO specimen was discovered at
a later stage of step 2 and was located approximately 300 mm from the column face (See Fig.
4.b). The first major flexural crack in the beam occurred in the RO specimen at step 3, near the
end of the retrofitted area. With increasing load steps, the width of this crack widened. Further
flexural cracks developed along the beam, farther away from the column face, in the OC
specimen from a drift ratio of 0.25 percent to 0.75 percent. At 1% drift ratio, a flexural crack
appeared on the face of the column, as well as the first diagonal hair crack in the joint core zone.
It should be noted that the first diagonal hair crack was discovered in a RO specimen at a drift
ratio of 1.4 percent. The intensity of cracks in the joint core of the retrofitted joint (RO) was
expected to be less than that of the non-retrofitted, control joint (OC); however, no significant
diagonal cracks appeared in either joint core (column) at higher drift ratios until the end of the
tests.
Fig. 4. Damage pattern in (a) specimen OC and (b) specimen RO.
strength and ductility capacities for tested joint specimens given by (Maheri & Torabi, 2019) are
given in table 1.
Table 1.
4.4. COMPARISON OF RESULTS FROM BOTH ANALYTICAL AND NUMERICAL
METHODS
The model can forecast failure in concrete materials. The ANSYS failure criterion is a
fiveparameter William-Wranke model that accounts for both cracking and crushing failure
modes. During this study, it was discovered that when the crushing capability of the concrete
is activated, the finite element solution fails prematurely. As a result, the crushing capability
was disabled, and concrete cracking controlled the failure in the numerical models.
The control joint (NOC) and the retrofitted joint (NRO) were subjected to numerical nonlinear
static, displacement controlled, pushover analyses. The method was used to solve the nonlinear
pushover problem. The Newton-Raphson method was modified, and the convergence criteria
were established based on displacement and its initial limits were chosen by the the ANSYS
programme.
(Fig. 5. Comparison between the numerical monotonic pushover and experimental
cyclic backbone curves of the non-retrofitted and retrofitted specimens.)
CHAPTER 5
SUMMARY
A review of the state-of-the-art in FRP retrofitting of beam-column joint modules reveals a
number of successful implementations that address a variety of retrofit objectives. This review
can draw important conclusions based on a detailed assessment of the research schemes and
the compilation of an experiment database. Different joint types for FRP composites and failure
types, have been presented. A brief review of the literature for the analysis of FRP laminated
composite joints was conducted.
• 3D Finite element model for the analysis of beam column joint is computationally
expensive but in order to get accurate result 3D analysis is essential. With the help of
computational programme, it is possible to analyse the beam-column joint.
• Beam plastic hinge relocation (PHR) is also a FRP application that has the potential to
improve structural seismic behaviour. According to research, strengthening the beam
near the joint allows for the relocation of damage and the formation of plastic hinges
away from the joint. This strengthening prevents the joint from yield infiltration and
improves the specimen's dissipative behaviour. The anchorage of the FRP sheets at the
beam-column joint interface is a practical issue that has not been adequately addressed.
• The maximum push load increased in the retrofitted joint compared to the nonretrofitted
joint, while the maximum pull load remained almost unchanged; the capacity increases
due to the retrofitting scheme.
• The shear deficiency behaviour of the beam-column joint and the enhancement in its
behaviour after retrofit.
• 3D finite element models can have a detailed modelling for the retrofitting of beam-
column joint with FRP and can provide accurate results of strain, force etc.
• The presence of FRP laminates in external beam column joint is more effective than
the FRP laminates used in internal beam-column joint.
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