Many of the existing reinforced concrete (RC) structures in the column region near the joint. Bedirhanoglu et al.2 investi-
Turkey built prior to 1999 have deficient design details due to gated the behavior of BCJ members with low-quality concrete
their non-seismic design or construction flaws. In particular, the and plain reinforcements. They concluded that preventing the
beam-column joints (BCJs) experience high shear forces during slippage of anchorage reinforcement by welding increased the
such events, mainly due to inadequate design detailing of trans-
load-carrying capacities by 35%.
verse reinforcements as well as inadequate lap splicing. Severe
Several seismic strengthening techniques have been
damage or total collapse of structures often occurred. To enhance
the performance of such deficient joint systems, several strength- developed and improved in the past decade, including RC and
ening techniques such as reinforced concrete and steel jacketing, steel jacketing.3,4 Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) are
as well as fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) wrapping, have been relatively new materials used in the strengthening by means
proposed. In this study, new shear strengthening techniques were of externally bonded reinforcement in critical regions of RC
developed using carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) to retrofit elements. These FRP materials, which are available today in
these insufficient BCJs. The effectiveness of various CFRP wrap- the form of strips or in-place resin-impregnated sheets, are
ping methodologies was investigated experimentally. One control being used to strengthen a variety of RC elements, including
specimen was constructed according to provisions specified by the beams, slabs, columns, and shear walls, to enhance the
1975 Turkish Building Design Code, whereas four other specimens flexural, shear, and axial (through confinement) capacity of
were constructed with deficiencies observed in the practice. More-
such elements. FRP materials offer advantages over other
over, three additional specimens were constructed to develop alter-
conventional materials such as steel and concrete for
native shear strengthening techniques via CFRP wrapping. The
quasi-static tests were carried out by applying constant axial load retrofitting. Some of the advantages are ease of installation,
and reversed-cyclic lateral load at the top of the column. Compara- immunity to corrosion, high stiffness-to-weight and strength-
tive analysis of control and CFRP-strengthened specimens’ results to-weight ratios, and the ability to control the material’s
showed that significant improvements in the lateral load and the behavior by selecting the proper orientation of the fibers.
energy dissipation capacities were achieved by using the proposed Despite the fact that the upfront cost of CFRP is somewhat
CFRP-strengthening techniques. higher than conventional construction materials, all of these
features make CFRP a highly engineered material suitable for
Keywords: beam-column joints; carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs);
infrastructure applications and increasing the shear and
lap splice; plain reinforcements; reinforced concrete; shear strengthening.
flexural capacities, and also ductility of structures including
the BCJ subassemblies.5-14
INTRODUCTION
Beam-column joints involving slabs and transverse beams
Recent earthquakes worldwide in urban areas have
(three-dimensional specimens) were also tested by the
demonstrated the vulnerability of existing structures to seismic
authors and other graduate students within the same scope
loading. Generally, many of the heavily damaged or collapsed
of the TUBITAK-NSF joint collaborative research project.
structures were designed for gravity loads only, with no
Similar types of strengthening techniques were used as in
regards to any significant lateral forces. Furthermore, concrete
this study to compare the differences between two- and
strength and reinforcement ratios were often below the
three-dimensional joint behaviors. The results showed
minimum values specified by the respective design codes.
improvement in strength and ductility of CFRP-strengthened
Thus, the lateral load resistance of these structures was
three-dimensional specimens as well.15,16
naturally very low even to resist moderate earthquakes.
After severe earthquakes, these structures revealed that one
RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
of the common weakest links in lateral-load-resisting frames
The most crucial part of RC structures appears to be the
was the beam-column joint (BCJ) region. Poorly detailed
BCJ regions according to failure type of buildings under
joints have been identified as critical structural elements that
seismic action. During the past three decades, a great deal
cause premature failure in reinforced concrete (RC) frames.
of research on BCJ subjected to seismic hazards has been
The lessons learned after each earthquake and a vast number
of parameters affecting joint behavior have motivated many
researchers to experimentally investigate the beam-column ACI Structural Journal, V. 116, No. 1, January 2019.
MS No. S-2016-035.R1, doi: 10.14359/51706922, was received November 30,
connections under simulated earthquake loads.1 The most 2017, and reviewed under Institute publication policies. Copyright © 2019, American
Concrete Institute. All rights reserved, including the making of copies unless
important parameters were lap splicing of longitudinal rein- permission is obtained from the copyright proprietors. Pertinent discussion including
forcements and lack of steel hoops in the joint core and in author’s closure, if any, will be published ten months from this journal’s date if the
discussion is received within four months of the paper’s print publication.
retrofitted BCJs for the effects of deficiencies such as use of 10–plain (No. 3) 280 (40.611)
plain reinforcements with inadequate lap splicing, low-quality
concrete, and inadequate transverse reinforcement within Table 2—Characteristics properties of CFRP
the joint core and in the beam and column members. Nominal thickness 0.176 mm/ply
The scope of this study is to find the effectiveness of CFRP
Ultimate tensile strength (0 degrees) 3800 MPa (551.143 ksi)
strengthening on shear capacity of two-dimensional defi-
cient beam-column joint specimens. Tensile modulus (0 degrees) 240 GPa
Ultimate rupture strain (0 degrees) 1.55%
EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM Weight 330 g/m2
A comprehensive survey was conducted on the existing
Notes: 1 mm = 0.0394 in.; 1 MPa = 0.145 ksi; 1 g/m2 = 0.000207 lb/ft2.
buildings designed between late 1950s and late 1990s, and
prior to the 1998 Turkish Earthquake Code, to determine the
deficiencies of Turkish design practices and construction.
More than 50 building design projects were examined. It was
revealed that the concrete strengths were less than 25 MPa
(3.6 ksi) for 90% of the buildings, with 50% of those being
below 16 MPa (2.3 ksi). Also, St I type steel, which had
220 MPa (31.9 ksi) yield strength, was used in 70% of those
buildings. At the end of the survey, common deficiencies such
as plain reinforcements, low-quality concrete, insufficient
transverse reinforcement, and lap-splicing lengths were iden-
tified. The survey also revealed that the beam sections were
greater than the connecting column sections. In general, moment
capacity of the beams was higher than that of the columns.
The present experimental study could be explained briefly Fig. 1—Stress-strain relations for 16 and 10 reinforce-
in two parts. In the first part, to represent the old design prac- ments. (Note: 1 MPa = 0.145 ksi; 1 mm = 0.0394 in.)
tice, a control specimen was detailed according to the provi-
sions of the Turkish Earthquake Code 1975 (TEC-75).17 Also, tionally. Nine samples of concrete cylinders with a diameter
four other identical specimens were produced with the afore- of 150 mm (5.9 in.) and height of 300 mm (11.8 in.) were
mentioned deficiencies such as plain reinforcements with taken from each specimen. Nominal compressive strengths
inadequate lap splicing, low-quality concrete, and inadequate of cylinder tests were determined in accordance with ASTM
transverse reinforcement within the joint core, which were C39.18 Additionally, 16 mm (0.63 in. [No. 5]) and 10 mm
common in Turkish design practices and construction. These (0.39 in. [No. 3]) plain steel bars were used as longitudinal
specimens were tested without any strengthening process and transverse reinforcement, respectively, for both beam
involved to determine the effects of these deficiencies. and column members. The tensile tests were performed in
In the second part, one of the specimens with the poorest accordance with ASTM A706/A706M.19 An average tensile
behavior was selected as a critical one and three identical strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) was obtained, which was very
specimens were produced to implement the retrofitting close to what the steel mill’s strength values were. Stress-
strategies. The aim of the second part of the study was to versus-strain relationships and the characteristic properties
strengthen the joints by developing suitable CFRP wrapping of steel bars are given in Fig. 1 and Table 1, respectively.
configurations to eliminate the effects of such deficiencies For the strengthened joint specimens, various numbers
and improve the behavior. To find the effective strength- of CFRP layers and wrapping configurations were applied
ening technique, the deficiencies in the existing reinforced based on the damage and crack patterns observed in the
concrete frame subassemblies, or BCJs, must be first iden- control specimens. Properties of CFRP material and stress-
tified correctly and improvements should be implemented versus-strain relationship were taken from the manufacturer
thereafter to mitigate the negative effects of such deficien- data sheet and are given in Table 2 and Fig. 2, respectively.
cies. In this study, the effect of inadequate lap splices at
the bottom of column longitudinal reinforcements and the Description of test specimens
lack of shear reinforcement at the joint region were investi- Specimens consisted of a beam and top/bottom columns.
gated. Subsequently, CFRP-strengthening methodology was The beam was 1650 mm (65.0 in.) in length with 300 x
proposed to eliminate the effects of these deficiencies. 500 mm (11.8 x 19.7 in.) cross-sectional dimensions and the
columns had 1920 mm (72.6 in.) in total height and 300 x
Material properties 500 mm (11.8 x 19.7 in.) cross-sectional dimensions.
To mimic old design practices, in construction of deficient In the first part of the study, five control specimens were
joints, a low-quality concrete mixture was prepared inten- constructed and tested without any CFRP application for
Fig. 3—Reinforcement details for: (a) TR 1 Control; and (b) TR 5 Control. (Note: 1 mm = 0.0394 in.)
STRENGTHENING METHODOLOGY
Fig. 7—Free body diagram of test specimens. Based on critical control test specimen’s (TR-5-Control)
results and crack patterns at the joint region, a CFRP strength-
ening methodology for BCJ specimens was proposed that is
imen, approximately 35 to 40 reversed cycles were applied
explained in the following and also illustrated in Table 5.
throughout the test. Crack patterns on concrete surface,
Step 1: To prevent the debonding of the CFRP sheets from
CFRP ruptures, and debonding, as well as failure modes were
the surface of the beam, four horizontal holes with 12 mm
recorded in each of three-cycle loading set.
(0.47 in.) diameter were drilled across the beam. The holes
Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show the experiment setup. The
were drilled to install CFRP anchorages in the beam.
specimens were tested in a setup where the beam was placed
Step 2: To increase the flexural capacity of the column,
parallel to the strong floor and attached by a rigid steel link
longitudinal CFRP sheet was applied to the column surface
element at its free end, simulating a roller support. The
to eliminate lap-splice effects. The length of the column
column was placed in a vertical position and supported by
flexural CFRP was 1900 mm (74.8 in.).
a universal pin at the bottom end. Constant axial load was
Step 3: The L-shaped CFRP sheets were mounted on the
applied vertically from top of the column by a load-control
face of the joining surface of column and beam at upper and
loading system with a 900 kN (202.3 kip) capacity static
bottom portions. These L-shapes were extended to 300 mm
actuator. The amount of the constant axial force applied
(11.8 in.) along the beam.
was 40% of the axial load capacity of column. A steel
Step 4: This orientation scheme is associated with cracks
frame was constructed surrounding the test setup to prevent
observed in control specimens that were caused due to the
any possible out-of-plane deformations, where the rollers
lack of the transverse reinforcement in the joint region and
mounted on both sides of the frame touched the specimen
was designed to provide shear reinforcement for the joint
and forced it to move in the direction of loading. A simpli-
region. The shear crack observed in the control specimens
fied free-body diagram of the specimen is shown in Fig. 7.
were started from one corner of the joint panel and propagated
Longitudinal CFRP sheet was applied outside the column surface for elimi-
Step 2
nating lap splice defect and increasing moment capacities of column members.
Top and bottom L-shaped CFRP sheets were applied to inside of the column
Step 3 face extending toward the beam surface for eliminating lap splice defect and
increasing the resistance of joint region.
One layer of diagonal CFRP fibers were placed on joint region to prevent
Step 4 diagonal crack propagation along the joint surface. Same application was done
for opposite direction, resulting X-shaped CFRP orientation.
Three layers of 150 mm wide CFRP patches were used for eliminating the
Step 5
rupture of CFRP materials in the joint region.
Top and bottom portion of the column was wrapped for eliminating early
Step 6 debonding of already-applied L-shaped and longitudinal CFRP on column
surface.
toward the opposite corner diagonally. Thus, the slope of the Step 5: In addition to one layer diagonal fiber at each
shear crack depended on the dimensions of joint panel (Fig. 9). corner of the joint panel, three layers of CFRP with a depth
Because CFRP material is mainly used to carry the tensile of 150 mm (5.9 in.) were installed on the diagonal fibers.
forces, its fibers should be placed perpendicular to the cracks Increasing the number of CFRP layers at the corner of the
to obtain an optimum solution. If the CFRP fibers are placed joint region would prevent the initiation of the cracks at that
vertically or horizontally, some shear forces on the CFRP may location.
cause early failure due to the shearing action. Therefore, CFRP Step 6: To increase the confinement effects, the anchorage
fibers are applied to the joints in both directions as X-shaped. wrap was applied on diagonal and L-shaped sheets at the top
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
Specimen TR-1-Control was designed and detailed
according to provisions of TEC-75. The maximum lateral
load was measured as 50 kN (11.2 kip) at 1.40% drift cycles
in the pull and push directions of loading. Although the
amount of longitudinal reinforcements was different at top
(516 [No. 5]) and bottom (416 [No. 5]) of the beam, there
was no significant difference between the lateral load capac-
ities in pull and push directions of loading. The reason for
this was that the failure was governed by the crushing of
Fig. 9—Slope of diagonal fibers. the concrete at the joint core due to shear failure prior to the
and bottom column region. The CFRP sheet with 300 mm yielding of beam’s longitudinal reinforcement.
(11.8 in.) width was wrapped around the columns. Specimen TR-2-Control had deficiencies including insuf-
Step 7: To prevent debonding, the CFRP sheet was ficient transverse reinforcement in the column and the beam,
wrapped around the beam as an anchorage. This application as well as lack of transverse reinforcement at the joint
region. The first crack within the joint region was noticed at
Check out the Chapters Special Section from the October 2015 Concrete International:
www.concrete.org/publications/concreteinternational/cibackissues.aspx?m=456
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