Experimental Study on Eccentric Compression Behavior of Timber Columns with Longitudinal Cracks Strengthened by CFRP Sheets

Abstract

This paper presents a study on reinforcement of timber columns with longitudinal cracks strengthened by CFRP sheets under eccentric compression. An experimental program using special eccentric compression hinged-support was proposed to identify the failure modes and to investigate the recovery in load carrying capacity. Different combinations of eccentric distance and directions of the eccentric plane related to that of the crack plane were considered. This test can provide detailed experimental data for the application of CFRP strengthening on timber columns under eccentric compression which is an efficient method to maintain the original historical structure.