Events Calendar

Civil and Environmental Engineering Seminar

Speaker: Zahra Kharal, University of Toronto

Talk Title: Towards Understanding the Seismic Behaviour of FRP Confined Concrete Columns

Abstract: A large inventory of deficient reinforced concrete (RC) structures exist in which steel corrosion is the main cause of deficiency. Corrosion of steel in columns is especially a serious issue in existing structures, as it can lead to unexpected brittle structural failure in earthquakes or worse, under static gravity loads alone. While upgrading of these structures is a priority, the new structures need to be built such that they do not undergo similar ageing problems. Research on glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) as internal reinforcement has shown promise as a durable material for building sustainable infrastructure. The research that I will present investigated the use of GFRP longitudinal bars and GFRP transverse reinforcement in columns for seismic resistance. The experimental program involved extensive testing of full-scale GFRP- and steel-RC columns under simulated earthquake loads. The variables investigated included column shape (circular or square), amount and spacing of transverse reinforcement, type of longitudinal and transverse reinforcement (steel or GFRP), reinforcement configuration and axial load level. A significant conclusion drawn from this research was that not only can GFRP be used as primary transverse reinforcement in columns but, in some cases, can provide better confinement than steel. In addition, a computation program was developed that can predict the behavior of steel and FRP-spiral and -tied confined columns subjected to seismic loading. The novelty of this program is in being able to rapidly analyze the column while still capturing the full nonlinear response of the column.


Host: Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Location: Ray R. Irani Hall (RRI) - 101

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Salina Palacios