Behavior and Strength of Concrete Shear Walls with Steel Reinforcement and CFRP Retrofitting

Abstract

This paper presents the outcome of a study of the behavior and strength of plain and steel-reinforced concrete shear walls including carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) retrofitting. This study uses near-surface mounting of CFRP strips to retrofit a steel-reinforced concrete shear wall. Experiments were conducted on a plane concrete shear wall and another steel-reinforced one and the performance compared with that which had steel reinforcement and CFRP retrofitting. A gradually increasing horizontal quasi-static lateral load was then applied at one of the shear wall top end corners until the ultimate load was reached. Load-deflection curves were obtained, and both concrete cracking patterns as well as failure modes were recorded. The study shows that although steel reinforcement provides a significant enhancement of the shear wall ductility, the CFRP retrofitting results in a substantial strength increase.