Enhancing flexural capacity of RC columns through near surface mounted SMA and CFRP bars

This study explores the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) columns strengthened with near surface mounted (NSM) shape memory alloy (SMA) bars or carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars. Seven RC column specimens were designed and fabricated to study the influence of different variables on the flexural response of the strengthened columns. These parameters include type of NSM reinforcement (SMA bars or CFRP bars), ratio of NSM reinforcement, and effect of CFRP jacketing. The columns were tested under cyclic lateral loading with constant axial force. The flexural behavior of each specimen was examined in terms of peak load, failure load, drift ratios, displacement ductility, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation, and seismic damage index. The experimental results indicate that strengthening of RC columns with NSM SMA or CFRP bars improves the flexural behavior of the columns through increasing the lateral load capacity, reducing the stiffness degradation and increasing the cumulative energy absorption up to failure. Further enhancement in the lateral response of RC columns was obtained by combining NSM bars and CFRP jacketing as the later provides an additional confinement to the critical sections of the test specimens.