Simplified modeling of FRP wrapping of rectangular cross-sections

The goal of this research project is to provide a simplified closed form solution to determine directly the ultimate confined conc rete strength. Common cross-section shapes for RC columns are considered herein, namely squa re and rectangular. The simplified model is derived from a more refined iterative confinement model proposed by the same authors. Based on a detailed analysis of the stress state through Mohr’s Circle, a simplified solution is proposed to account for the non-uniformly confined concrete performance exhibited in non-axisymmetric sections. The key aspect of the proposed method is the evaluation of the effective pressure to be inserted in a triaxial confinement model, based on a refined mechanical approach rather than on other “conventional” approaches. Experimental data available in literature were compared with the results of the theoretical simplified an alyses to validate the proposed approach.