A computational model for reinforced concrete members confined with fiber reinforced polymer lamina: Implementation and experimental validation

This study presents a computational model to simulate the behavior of confined concrete in column plastic hinge zones. The model describes the distribution of confining stresses within a circular column cross-section and the hysteretic behavior of concrete under passive confinement. Of particular interest is the ability of the model to predict the maximum circumferential strains and thus estimate the limit state of the confining medium rather than relying on empirical limits such as concrete compressive strain or drift ratio. This is performed with fiber-discretized beam column analysis without the computational expenses of a continuum finite element (FE) model. The confined section and material model are implemented in an object-oriented computational platform for structural analysis. New classes are developed and presented for a confined fiber section, a confined concrete material, and associated hysteretic behavior rules. Finally, the results from two experimental programs on columns strengthened using fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) lamina are reproduced using the developed computational model. Comparison of simulation and experiment shows that the computational model can closely match the observed response characteristics and can adequately predict the deformation level leading to FRP rupture.