Effect of Axial Load and Steel Fibers on the Seismic Behavior of Lap-Spliced Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer-Reinforced Concrete Rectangular Columns

In this study, the behavior of six full-scale lap-spliced glass fiber-reinforced polymer reinforced concrete rectangular columns is presented. The columns were tested under simultaneous axial and quasi-static cyclic reversed loads. The experimental program was designed to determine the adequate splice length in such columns as well as the effect of different axial load levels on their performance. In addition, the effect of using steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) on the behavior of columns with inadequate splice length is investigated. Test results showed that a splice length of 60 times the diameter of the longitudinal bar is adequate to transfer the full bond forces along the splice length and were able to maintain the lateral load carrying capacity when subjected to higher levels of axial loads and drift ratios. Furthermore, the use of SFRC in columns with inadequate splice increased the peak lateral strength and the energy dissipation of the specimens.