Repair and strengthening of reinforced concrete square columns using ferrocement jackets

A series of 10 one-third scale square reinforced concrete column specimens were cast; preloaded under axial compression up to various fractions (0%, 60%, 80%, and 100%) of its ultimate load; repaired using ferrocement jackets containing two layers of Welded Wire Mesh (WWM) encapsulated in high strength mortar; and then retested to failure. The overall response of the specimens was investigated in terms of load carrying capacity, axial displacement, axial stress and strain, lateral displacement, and ductility. The test results indicated that jacketing reinforced concrete square columns with this form of ferrocement provided about 33% and 26% increases in axial load capacity and axial stiffness, respectively, compared to the control columns. The test results also indicated that repairing similar reinforced concrete columns (after preloading them to failure) with the same ferrocement jacket almost restored their original load capacity and stiffness. Furthermore, the repaired columns failed in a ductile manner compared to the brittle failure exhibited by the control columns.