Strength of Corroded RC Circular Columns Repaired with Advanced Composites

The feasibility and viability of two different composite-based repaired solutions, namely carbon fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (C-FRCM) and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (C-FRP) composites to repair axially-loaded reinforced concrete (RC) circular column pre-damaged by reinforcement corrosion are examined in this paper. Four RC circular columns were tested. One RC column was neither corroded nor repaired to act as a benchmark. Three RC columns were subjected to accelerated corrosion which rendered 13% and 37% cross-sectional losses in the longitudinal steel reinforcement and the steel ties, respectively. One corroded RC column was tested to failure without repair. Two corroded RC columns were repaired with 2 layers of C-FRCM and C-FRP composites in the hoop direction, then tested to failure. The corroded-unrepaired column exhibited a 34% reduction in the load carrying capacity. Both composite-based repair solutions were able to recover the original strength of the control column without increasing the column’s stiffness. Although the strength of the C-FRP confined column was 53% higher than that of its counterpart repaired with C-FRCM composites, its ductility index was 26% lower.