Use of CFRP to Provide Continuity in Reinforced Concrete Members

A special problem in many reinforced concrete (RC) §structures built in the 1970 s and earlier is the §lack of continuity between elements. Continuity is a §characteristic of structures essential to preventing §collapse. Therefore, in extreme loading conditions §such as loss of a column support due to terrorist §attack or if earthquake or other extreme actions §occur, the structures could be vulnerable to §collapse. The study reported here focused on two §structural discontinuities in existing RC §structures, discontinuity in bottom reinforcement in §beams (horizontal discontinuity) and poorly detailed §lap splices in columns (vertical discontinuity). The §objective of this study was to develop §rehabilitation methods using Carbon Fiber Reinforced §Polymer (CFRP) to provide continuity of §reinforcement. Two separate experimental studies §were conducted. The test results indicated that §continuity could be provided through the CFRP §rehabilitation. Based on the test results, design §guidelines for the CFRP rehabilitation were §proposed. The study should be useful to §professionals in Structural Engineering field who §are interested in rehabilitation of RC structures.