Ductility components and limits of FRP-plated RC structures

The structural design of the vast majority of reinforced concrete civil engineering structures relies on the inherent ductility of the members to accommodate changes in load patterns, to absorb energy and to give prior warning of failure. It is such an important fundamental behaviour and requirement, that it simply cannot be ignored in practice without a quantum change in the existing design procedures. The quantifiable ductility of unplated reinforced concrete members is based on the ultimate rotation at concrete crushing failure; this proviso cannot be applied to FRP-plated RC members as the FRP may fracture or debond prior to concrete crushing. Hence, the necessity to quantify or model the ductility of a member at all stages from the initial loading to the end failure is the subject of this paper.