Post-earthquake recoverability of existing RC bridge piers retrofitted with FRP composites

The novel concept of this paper is to investigate the required recoverability of existing important reinforced concrete (RC) bridges retrofitted with fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) to restore their original functions after a moderate or strong earthquake. Hence, this paper presents an up-to-date literature search on the inelastic performance of 109 FRP-retrofitted columns with lap-splice deficiency, flexural deficiency, or shear deficiency. The study is conducted in the following steps: using post-yield stiffness as a seismic index, the effectiveness of FRP jackets in enhancing the inelastic stage performance of non-ductile reinforced concrete columns is scrutinized for the available database; the performance of columns which successfully achieved post-yield stiffness is categorized in accordance with the required recoverability after an earthquake; and according to the definition of a controllable recoverable structure, the appropriate composite jacket thickness is calculated. In the view of a proposed mechanical model of an FRP–RC damage-controllable structure, 61 columns of the available database exhibited idealized lateral performance with stable post-yield stiffness, or secondary stiffness. Lateral drift at the end of the recoverable state is defined from the hysteretic responses of 39 columns and is visualized as a ratio of column lateral drift by the end of the post-yield stiffness with explicit consideration for the effect of both column cross-section shape and deficiency. Finally, suitable FRP design assumptions and concepts certifying the reality of post-yield stiffness are given. Furthermore, in the light of Seismic Design Specifications of Highway Bridges in Japan, a FRP strengthening design guideline that considers and evaluates structural recoverability is proposed.