STRUCTURAL QUALIFICATION TESTING OF COMPOSITE-JACKETED CIRCULAR AND RECTANGULAR BRIDGE COLUMNS

This report presents both an analytical and experimental study regarding the seismic retrofit of half-scale bridge columns using advanced composite-material jackets. It describes a structural assessment and qualification-testing program, in addition to a complementary material testing program, and how these programs were conducted. Analytical models were used to predict the behavior of the retrofitted columns. The accuracy of the models was assessed by comparing them directly with the experimental and theoretical results. The results of the study show that advanced composite material jackets can lead to a significant improvement in the ductility of rectangular and circular columns with insufficient shear strength, and only the ductility of circular columns with insufficient lap splice length.