Performance of FRP strengthened full-scale simply-supported circular hollow steel members under monotonic and large-displacement cyclic loading

Steel structures are becoming more common in engineering construction as steel possesses excellent ductility, but steel members are often vulnerable to buckling, especially under seismic or cyclic loading. Hollow structural sections (HSS) often buckle locally under loading due to their thin steel walls and the need for rehabilitation and strengthening is increasing. In the present study, circular hollow section (CHS) steel members have been strengthened with both carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP). Their structural performance, along with that of their bare counterparts, is investigated subjected to monotonic and quasi-static large-displacement cyclic loading experimentally. The types of FRP reinforcement (CFRP and GFRP) and the loading condition (monotonic and cyclic) are chosen as two main parameters in the test program. Results reveal the significant structural improvements of the strengthened CHS members under monotonic and cyclic loading. The ultimate moment capacities of the beams under monotonic and cyclic loading are enhanced by 51.0% and 35.4% respectively with CRFP strengthening and 43.3% and 31.5% respectively with GFRP strengthening compared to the bare beam. In addition, all the FRP strengthened specimens achieved higher moment capacities, rotational capacities, stiffness, energy dissipation capacities and ductility in comparison to their bare counterparts. Moreover, there is a good agreement found between the experimental and theoretically predicted ultimate moment capacities of the bare and strengthened CHSs with a mean ratio of 1.04 and a COV of 0.05.