Effectiveness of the Novel Rehabilitation Method of Seismically Damaged RC Joints Using C-FRP Ropes and Comparison with Widely Applied Method Using C-FRP Sheets—Experimental Investigation

The necessity of ensuring the long-term sustainability existing structures is rising. An important issue concerning reinforced concrete (RC) in seismically active regions that a significant number them lack required earthquake-resistant capacities to meet increased design earthquake demands. Inexpensive, fast and strengthening strategies for repairing/strengthening RC are urgently required, not only after destructive earthquakes, but even before they occur. Retrofitting buildings extending their service life rather than demolishing rebuilding new ones best option terms economic gain environmental protection. This paper experimentally investigates effectiveness externally applied (i) carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (C-FRP) ropes X-type form (b) C-FRP sheets bonded on both sides joint area beam-column connections. Six comparative full-scale exterior specimens were tested under reverse cyclic deformation. Two control specimens, two strengthened using (novel technique) retrofitted (widely used technique). Extensive comparisons discussion test results derive quantitative qualitative seismic capacity extension members proposed retrofitting scheme.