Investigating the efficiency of using the carbon fiber polymer on beam-column connection

Due to the huge amount of energy induced from earthquakes, such natural hazards usually represent the most significant threat on existing and new buildings. Recently, a lot of considerable efforts were dedicated to design buildings capable of withstanding earthquakes' ground motions by utilizing lateral resisting elements, such as reinforced concrete shear walls, cores, frames, and steel bracing. Contrasting the experience gained from the previously designed guidelines and provisions for lateral resisting systems, recent studies illustrated that the existence of lateral resisting system in low-rise buildings is essential in order to resist ground motions. As such, some endeavors are directed to reinforce old buildings against seismic loads. This paper focuses on investigating the efficiency of using Carbon Fiber Polymer (CFRP) sheets on the behavior of beam-column connections considering a cantilever beam with concentrated load at its free end. In addition, to complement the published data, finite element model using the computer package ANSYS was used. The additional beam-column connections in this study are classified in 4 groups (A, B, C, and D) depending on the percentage of reinforcement at the bottom and top of the beam (%As). The efficiency of using CFRP was concluded; the CFRP sheet improves or decreases the efficiency of beam-column connection depending on %As in the beam. The paper investigates the influence of boundary condition, columns as hinged supports, and the efficiency of using CFRP. It is concluded that the CFRP sheet improves or decreases the efficiency of beam-column connection depending on %As in the beam.