Evaluation of compressive strength of concrete members laterally confined by various FRP composites and exposed to high temperatures

Abstract

In the current study, the compressive strength of concrete members laterally confined by various Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites and exposed to high temperatures was investigated. To this end, FRP-composite test specimens composed of glass or carbon fiber with epoxy or phenolic resin were utilized in order to represent the various FRP functions examined for the binding of compression members. The material effects and the temperature-exposure effects were set as experimental variables and were considered for concrete members laterally confined by various FRP composites. The specimens were mounted in a high-temperature furnace for exposure to the experimental temperatures, and the fiber-reinforcement effects from compressive strength tests, along with the properties of the resin types, were determined. The results revealed that the compressive strength of the FRP-compositeconfined concrete members decreased with high-temperature exposure. A behavior change induced by the failure of the inner concrete members at temperatures above 250 degrees was observed. It was concluded that the carbon fiber/phenolic resin combination was more effective than the glass fiber/epoxy resin one under high-temperature exposure.