Author(s)

A. Michael & P. Christou

Abstract

The moment-curvature (M-Φ) diagrams define the maximum capacity of structural elements that are primarily subjected to bending moments and therefore their failure mode is flexural. The moment-curvature diagrams are also used to assess the ductility of structural elements and are therefore very important for the determination of the amount of plastic energy a structural element can absorb. One way of improving the reinforced concrete (RC) members is the confinement of concrete with FRP composites. The work presented in this paper includes the development of moment curvature diagrams for RC members using a fiber model. The RC members were designed as compression controlled members meaning that their failure initiates in the concrete prior to yielding of the steel tension reinforcement. These types of members have limited ductility. The introduction of a specific amount of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composite grid as confining reinforcement improves the ductility of the RC members by as much as 30%. The results from the fiber model are compared to available results from an experimental program conducted to evaluate the experimental improvement of the ductility of compression controlled members. The experimental and analytical results are a good match indicating that the fiber model is accurate and can be used to develop the moment-curvature diagrams of RC members confined with a CFRP composite grid. Keywords: CFRP grid, concrete confinement, moment curvature, ductility. 1 Introduction Compression controlled steel reinforced members, fail through crushing of concrete and therefore lack the ductility that is associated with yielding of the

Keywords

CFRP grid, concrete confinement, moment curvature, ductility