Numerical analysis of the effects of PBO-FRCM confinement on RC columns

This paper presents a finite element (FE) analysis on the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) squared and rectangular columns strengthened by PBO-FRCM, under axial force and bending moment. The modeling technique adopted for the compressive behavior of confined concrete is previously validated developing FE models for specimens of plain concrete wrapped by PBO-FRCM and comparing the numerical results with those obtained by experimental tests on squared and rectangular confined columns. Then, the model of the RC element is developed reproducing the load condition of columns in a MRF loaded by horizontal forces with constant axial load applied to the pillar during the analysis. The numerical model is validated against experimental results obtained by the authors in a previous study.