Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites Integrated Beam–Column Joints with Improved Strength Performance against Seismic Events: Numerical Model Simulation

Abstract

Strength enhancement of non-seismic concrete beam–column joints (NSCBCJs) via carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRPCs) integration has become a viable strategy. However, the implementation of these NSCBCJs without transverse reinforcement shows poor performance during earthquakes in seismic locations. Thus, strengthening the anti-seismic performance of NSCBCJs to meet the acceptance criteria of ACI 374.1-05 is fundamentally significant. Yet, in addition to limited experimental results, only a few numerical studies based on the finite element model have been performed to determine the anti-seismic behavior of NSCBCJs. Consequently, the stress contribution of CFRPCs to NSCBCJs is not clearly understood. Therefore, we used a finite element model to examine the strength contribution of CFRPCs to NSCBCJs. The performance of the proposed finite element model was validated using the experimental results, demonstrating a good agreement between them. It was shown that the strength of NSCBCJs was improved due to CFRPC incorporation, thereby achieving compliance with the seismic requirements of ACI 374.1-05. In addition, CFRPCs presence could enhance the confinement, reduce the deformation of the NSCBCJs and, thus, decrease their stiffness and strength degradation, while simultaneously improving the energy dissipation.