Seismic behavior of PVC-CFRP confined reinforced concrete columns: An experimental study

This paper presents an experimental study on the seismic behavior of PVC-CFRP confined reinforced concrete columns subjected to combined axial compression load and horizontal reversed cyclic loading. A total of six one-fourth scale PVC-CFRP confined reinforced concrete columns (PVC-CFRP) and two one-fourth scale PVC confined reinforced concrete columns (PVC) are fabricated. The flexural failure mode, which is characterized by the crushing of concrete and the yielding of longitudinal reinforcement, is found for all PVC-CFRP and PVC specimens. The effects of axial compression ratio and CFRP strip spacing on the secant stiffness, energy dissipation, etc. are investigated. The results show the secant stiffness decreases rapidly as the axial compression ratio increases, and the confining effect of the CFRP strip spacing on the secant stiffness evolution is more obvious for the specimen with higher axial compression ratio. The specimen with smaller CFRP strip spacing exhibits better energy dissipation capacity, and the strengthening effect of CFRP strips is more significant for the specimen with higher axial compression ratio. The effective CFRP strip spacing for the PVC-CFRP is suggested.