REPAIR AND RETROFIT OF RC COLUMNS WITH PRESTRESSED BANDS FOR IMPROVED SEISMIC BEHAVIOUR

A new technique of seismic retrofit of RC columns has been applied in this paper. Pre-stressed high strength metal strips are externally applied to RC columns. Eight large-scale RC columns with insufficient transverse reinforcements were tested under constant axial and cyclic lateral load reversals. The level of axial load and the pattern of strengthening were parameters of this study. The ability of the technique for improving the ductility of RC columns and increasing the lateral strength of columns as well as repair of damaged columns was studied. It was observed that the technique is capable to enhance the lateral behavior of RC columns significantly. Very ductile behavior was achieved. The height-wise variations of lateral strain on confining strips are studied.

Keywords:

RC column , seismic behavior , earthquake , repair , seismic retrofit