Experimental investigation of square RC column strengthened with near surface mounted GFRP bars subjected to axial and cyclic lateral loads

This article is intended to highlight the eectiveness of longitudinal Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars in combination with GFRP sheets on the exural capacity of Reinforced Concrete (RC) columns. Seven half-scale RC columns including ve strengthened and two control unstrengthened specimens were experimentally tested under axial and cyclic lateral loads. The strengthened columns with two dierent longitudinal GFRP bar ratios were tested under three dierent axial load levels. The exural strength and ductility parameters of the specimens were calculated by obtaining their deformations and measuring the loads from load cells. The experimental results indicate signicant increase in the exural strength of the RC specimens. The results of this study can be reliably utilized to enhance the exural strength of RC columns in the regions with high seismicity.