Behaviour of FRP-jacketed circular steel tubes and cylindrical shells under axial compression

Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) jackets have been widely used to confine reinforced concrete (RC) columns for enhancement in both strength and ductility. This paper presents the results of a recent study in which the benefit of FRP confinement of hollow steel tubes was explored. Axial compression tests on FRP-confined steel tubes are first described. Finite element modelling of these tests is next discussed. Both the test and the numerical results show that FRP jacketing is a very promising technique for the retrofit and strengthening of circular hollow steel tubes. In addition, finite element results for FRP-jacketed thin cylindrical shells under combined axial compression and internal pressure are presented to show that FRP jacketing is also an effective strengthening method for such shells failing by elephant’s foot collapse near the base.