Reinforced Concrete Columns Confined with Prestressed Steel Straps under Axial Loading

This paper presents an experimental study on reinforced concrete columns strengthened with prestressed steel straps. A total of five specimens is constructed. A cross-section of all specimens is 150x150 millimeters. A height of all specimens is 1.20 meters. A studied variable is a spacing of steel straps, which are 150 and 75 millimeters. All columns are subjected to a compressive force without an eccentric load. The experimental data is recorded in the term of the load-deformation relationships, and also modes of failure. Based on the experimental data, the reinforced concrete column strengthened with steel straps can enhance the axial load bearing capacity by 30 to 33 percent and can increase the ductility by 71 to 118 percent. A spacing of steel straps has no significant influence on an axial load bearing capacity, but it affects the ductility when compared to the control specimen.