Compressive behavior of circular and square concrete column externally confined by different types of basalt fiber–reinforced polymer

Abstract

This article studies the compressive behavior of concrete columns confined by different basalt fiber–reinforced polymers. A total of 30 columns were divided into 10 groups according to section shapes (circular and square), basalt fiber–reinforced polymer types (unidirectional basalt fiber–reinforced polymer, bidirectional basalt fiber–reinforced polymer, and hybrid basalt fiber–reinforced polymer/carbon fiber–reinforced polymers), and number of layers (0, 1, and 2). The test results showed that the compressive strengths of confined specimens increased by 20%–71% for circular columns and by 23%–41% for square columns. Similarly, the ultimate strains improved by 49%–296% for circular specimens and by 45%–145% for square specimens. The two-layer basalt fiber–reinforced polymer jacket had the best confinement effect, whereas the confining effect of bidirectional basalt fiber–reinforced polymer wrapping was relatively lower than that of unidirectional basalt fiber–reinforced polymer wrapping. Moreover, both the strength and ultimate strain of confined concrete improved with increasing number of basalt fiber–reinforced polymer layers. Finite element numerical models were also developed and verified by experimental results, and then the stress distributions of basalt fiber–reinforced polymer jackets and cross-sectional concrete were presented. Based on the test results and experimental data from several existing studies, modified strength and ultimate strain models were further developed for basalt fiber–reinforced polymer-confined circular and square columns.