Performance of CFRP-Wrapped Connections

Abstract

Externally-applied FRP wraps have proven to be efficient and effective technique to repair and strengthened structurally deficient beam-column joints. To date, the vast majority of FRP retrofitting studies have been performed on beams and columns. However, investigations on FRP strengthening of beam-column connections are scattered and limited. In the present study, interior and exterior as-built reinforced beamcolumns joints are compared to their CFRP-wrapped counterparts through finite element analysis. The joints are subjected to constant axial and lateral cyclic loads. The lateral load versus displacement response of the interior joint control model was found to be superior to that of the exterior control joint model in all aspects. Therefore, the exterior T-joints are the more critical type to upgrade. However, regardless of their type, the CFRP-strengthened connections outperformed the as-built models in terms of strength and ductility.