Seismic Behavior of Concrete Columns Reinforced by Steel-FRP Composite Bars

Steel-fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite bars (SFCBs) are a novel reinforcement for concrete structures. Because of the FRP’s linear elastic characteristic and high ultimate strength, they can achieve a stable postyield stiffness even after the inner steel bar has yielded, which subsequently enables a performance-based seismic design to easily be implemented. In this study, lateral cyclic loading tests of concrete columns reinforced either by SFCBs or by ordinary steel bars were conducted with axial compression ratios of 0.12. The main variable parameters were the FRP type (basalt or carbon FRP) and the steel/FRP ratio of the SFCBs. The test results showed the following: (1) compared with ordinary RC columns, SFCB-reinforced concrete columns had a stable postyield stiffness after the SFCB’s inner steel bar yielded; (2) because of the postyield stiffness of the SFCB, the SFCB-reinforced concrete columns exhibited less column-base curvature demand than ordinary RC columns for a given column cap latera...