STRENGTHENING OF CORRODED UNDERCONFINED RC ELEMENTS

Abstract

Keywords: confinement, corrosion, strengthening. RC structures- of the past have been constructed without ductile detailing, reducing their earthquake resistant capabilities. With age, problems of durability arising due to corrosion of rebar compounds the problem. A comparison between well confined and underconfined RC short columns with varying levels of corrosion, and their subsequent strengthening will provide a better understanding of their behaviour. The experimental programme consists of short columns with well confined and underconfined sections subjected to accelerated corrosion. A portion of the corroded specimens are strengthened with ferrocemeni jacketting and GFRP wrap to enhance their strength and strain response. The testing of specimens is under a constant strain for evaluating their behaviour, followed by assessment of corrosion in specimens. The study found that the response of underconfined sections was substantially poorer than well confined sections, and the degree of corrosion caused further reduction in stress and strain capacities. Moreover, efficacy of strengthening measures was poorer for underconfined sections, more so for corroded specimens. GFRP wrap has been found to have better potential than ferrocement jacketing as a strengthening measure.