Numerical investigation on the seismic behaviour of GFRP-reinforced concrete rectangular columns

Numerical analysis was performed using a nonlinear finite element software to investigate the seismic performance of glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP)-reinforced concrete (RC) rectangular columns. Cyclic behaviour of reinforcement and concrete properties, based on fracture energy and bond-slip relationships between concrete and GFRP reinforcement, have been incorporated in the constructed finite element models (FEMs). Previous results obtained from testing seven full-scale GFRP-RC rectangular columns were used for the validation of the FEMs. The validated FEMs were used to conduct a parametric study on a wide range of key parameters affecting the behaviour of GFRP-RC columns under seismic loading, including concrete strength, axial load level, size and spacing of transverse reinforcement, and shear span-to-depth ratio. An improvement in the capacity of GFRP-RC columns was observed by increasing the concrete strength and decreasing spacing of transverse reinforcement. However, the lateral load capacity was reduced with increasing axial load level, which ultimately resulted in a premature failure of the GFRP-RC columns. The mode of failure and deformation characteristics changed significantly due to reduction in span-to-depth ratio.

Automated summary

This study investigates the seismic performance of glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP)-reinforced concrete (RC) rectangular columns using numerical analysis. The results show that increasing the concrete strength and decreasing the spacing of transverse reinforcement can improve the capacity of GFRP-RC columns, while increasing the axial load level reduces the lateral load capacity.