Seismic Performance of Hybrid Reinforced Concrete Circular Columns Confined in Aramid Fiber Reinforced Polymer Tube

This paper summarizes the recent research developments of a new structural concept for the design of the hybrid RC circular columns confined in aramid fiber reinforced polymer (AFRP) tube impregnated with epoxy. The AFRP tubes have the dual function of stay-in-place formwork and transverse reinforcement for the structural elements. Although the AFRP tube is not structural member by itself, it will turn into an important seismic resistance member by hybridizing the AFRP tube and the RC column. However, in this lateral cyclic loading test under a constant axial force the bond splitting happened on these specimens for lack of bond strength because high strength and large diameter longitudinal reinforcement were arranged excessively. If the hybrid RC columns confined in AFRP tube prevented the bond splitting failure from happening, their high seismic performance could be expected.