Experiment on the behavior of CFRP Strengthened
RCC Frame under Lateral Load
Saumya Shrestha1 and Prachand Man Pradhan2
1
Graduate Researcher, Kathmandu University, stha.saumya@gmail.com
2
Associate Professor, Kathmandu University, prachand@ku.edu.np
Keywords: FRP, CFRP, Retrofitting, Strengthening.
1. Introduction
Many structures located in the seismically
active zones such as Nepal are not capable of
withstanding seismic action and often fail. More
over cast in-situ concrete structures are hardly
ever built under ideal conditions. A weakened
structure may need to be repaired or strengthened
to bring it back to its original intended capacity.
There are many methods and material
available for carrying out structural repairs and
strengthening. This research will be focused on
jacketing with CFRP. Generally, concrete
jacketing for repair and strengthening can often
be bulky and highly labor intensive. Although,
strengthening by FRP wrapping has a high cost
value, it is still preferred because of its superior
mechanical properties like extremely high
strength to weight ratio, stiffness-to-weight ratio,
corrosion and fatigue resistance, easy installation
and excellent durability.
In this thesis research, experimental
investigation was conducted on the efficiency of
CFRP in improving the lateral load resisting
capacity as well as the ductility of RC frames.
The experimental setup comprised of 4 no. of
identical frames. The height of the column was
1000 mm and of 100 mm x 100 mm size. The
length of beam was 1000 mm and of size 100
mm by 100 mm. M20 Concrete and Fe500 was
used for reinforcement bars. The reinforcements
are given in accordance to the minimum criteria
suggested by IS 456 : 2000. The frame details
and reinforcement details are given in Fig 1.
Fig.1. Concrete frame size and reinforcement details
Among the four frames, CFRP wrap was
applied to three frames according to the
installation procedure suggested by ACI 440.2R-
17. All the specimens were tested in Kathmandu
University Structural Engineering Laboratory in
the Horizontal Load Testing Set up. The test set
up for the experiment was similar to the
experimental setup used in the research of P.M.
Pradhan (2014). The testing was done primarily
for the in-plane loading system that limited to
static monotonic loading for frame aspect ratio
1:1. The displacement of the frames at various
locations were measured as shown in Fig 2.
In total, one unstrengthened frame (Test#1),
and three CFRP strengthened frames (Test#2a, b,
c) were tested (Fig 2). However one of the CFRP
strengthened frames showed skewed result so it
was omitted.
Fig. 2. Experimental Setup
The lateral loading to the bare frame indicated
that the initial crack was attained when the
loading reached 7 kN. The bare frame was
observed to crack from the four nodal points, or
the connectivity between columns and beams.
Thus, all four nodes of the frame failed
ultimately indicating that the frame could fail at
nodal points when the frame is bare. The ultimate
load carrying capacity of test S1 was 14kN. The
lateral stiffness of bare frame was found as
1568.63N/mm. The ductility factor for specimen
S1 was found to be 16.69. Comparison was done
with two empirical fundamental formula of
Chopra (2007) and Bergami (2007) (Table 3).
Chopra (2007) suggests that the lateral
stiffness is given by:
Fig. 1.
. Concrete
Concreteframe
framesize
sizeand
andreinforcement
reinforcementdetails
details

........................................................(1)
Bergami (2007) suggests that the lateral stiffness
is given by:
..................................................(2)
Table 3 Difference in lateral stiffness
Lateral Stiffness Difference with expt.
Methods
(N/mm)
Experimental 1568.63
Bergami, (2007) 1708.24
Chopra, (2007) 1358.10
The lateral loading to the CFRP strengthened
frame indicated that the maximum lateral
stiffness value was observed as 2352.94N/mm
for test specimen S2a and 2222.22N/mm for test
specimen S2b. The tests also indicated that the
ultimate load carrying capacity of test S2a was
20kN and that of test S2b was 22kN. The
ductility factor for specimen S2a was found to be
49.65 and that for S2b was 41.57.
In specimen S2a, the first crack was observed
at 12KN at a displacement of 16.13mm. Upon
further increment of load, few hairline cracks
started to appear on the laminate/epoxy surface
but was not significant. At 17kN, delamination of
laminate was first noticed. No tearing of FRP
was observed.
In specimen S2b, first crack in concrete
appeared at 16kN load at displacement of
17.92mm. Upon further increase in load, few
hairline cracks started to form on concrete here
and there. Towards reaching the ultimate load,
fiber rupture in perpendicular direction to the
fiber grain was obtained.
Fig. 3. Load Displacement Characteristic Curve
2. Conclusions
• Under monotonic load, bare frame was
observed to crack from the four nodal points, or
the connectivity between columns and beams. All
the failures were dominant of shear failure. Thus
this study highlights the need for strengthening of
joint with the help of CFRP laminates or other
measures.
• The CFRP strengthened specimens showed that
it possesses larger stiffness compared to
unstrengthened bare frame (45.83% increment)
• The CFRP strengthened RCC framed structure
was found to possess larger ultimate load
carrying capacity of upto 50% more than its
unstrengthened counterpart.
• FRP retrofitting the joints also significantly
increased the ductility of the frame.The ductility
value(%)
  of the frame was increased by an average of 2.73
8.90 times.
13.42
References
Agrawal, P., & Shrikhande, M. (2006). "Earthquake
Resistant Design of Structures". India: Prentice
Hall of India Pvt. Ltd.
Antonio De Luca, M., Nardone, F., Fabio Matta, A.,
Antonio Nanni, F., Lignola, G. P., & Prota, A. A.
(2011.). "Structural Evaluation Of Full-Scale FRP-
Confined Reinforced". Journal of Composites for
Construction.
Subedi A. K. (2010). "Behavior of CFRP
Strengthened RC Pier Under Lateral Load". ME
Thesis. Institute of Engineering.
Bergami, A. (2007). "Implementation and
experimental verification of models for nonlinear
analysis of masonry infilled R.C. frames". Rome,
Italy: Universita Degli Studi Romatre.
Chopra, A. K. (2007). Dynamics of Structure. USA:
Prentice Hall.
ACI 440.2R-17 (2017). "Guide for the Design and
Construction of Externally Bonded FRP Systems
for Strengthening Concrete Structures". American
Concrete Institute (ACI): Farmington Hills, MI,
USA, 2017.
IS 456-2000, Plain And Reinforced Concrete- Code
Of Practice (Fourth revision). New Delhi, India:
Bureau of Indian Standards.
IS 516 (1959): Methods of Tests For Strength of
Concrete. New Delhi, India: Bureau of Indian
Standards.
Lawrence C. Bank (2006). "Composite for
construction: Structural design with FRP
materials". Publisher- John wiley and sons, inc.
Hoboken, New Jersy.
Modi, P. I., & Patel, C. N. (2016). "Repair and
Rehabilitation of Concrete Structures". Publisher-
Asoke K. Ghosh, PHI learning Pvt. Ltd., Rimjhim
House, Patparganj Industrial Estate, Delhi.
Pradhan P.M. (2014). "Composite Action of Pratial
Infill Wall in Reinforced Concrete Frame Under
Lateral Load". Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel,
Nepal.
Shrestha S. (2019). "Study On The Behavior Of Cfrp
Wrap Strengthen Rcc Frame Under Lateral Load".
ME Thesis. Kathmandu University.
Sorin dan, corneliu bob, catalin badea, daniel dan,
constantin florescu, liliana cotoarba,vasile pode,
2
aurelian gruin (2018). "Carbon Fiber Reinforced
Polymers Used for Strengthening of Existing
Reinforced Concrete Structures". Materiale
Plastice.