Abstract: Although Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs), as alternatives for the corrosive steel reinforcement in concrete structures, have shown promising performance under gravity loads, their performance under reversal cyclic loading is still one of the main concerns. The linear behavior of FRP reinforcement has a two-sided effect on the seismic performance of FRP-reinforced concrete (RC) moment-resisting frames. Although the linear nature of FRP reinforcement could be advantageous in terms of limiting the residual damage after an earthquake event, it lowers the energy dissipation of the structure which can compromise its seismic performance. Disclosed herein is the addition of steel plates at selected locations in moment-resisting frames to improve seismic performance of FRP-RC structures while still being able to take advantage of its linear behaviour (minimal residual damage after earthquake). The effectiveness of the proposed solution was tested both experimentally and analytically.

Abstract: Although Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs), as alternatives for the corrosive steel reinforcement in concrete structures, have shown promising performance under gravity loads, their performance under reversal cyclic loading is still one of the main concerns. The linear behavior of FRP reinforcement has a two-sided effect on the seismic performance of FRP-reinforced concrete (RC) moment-resisting frames. Although the linear nature of FRP reinforcement could be advantageous in terms of limiting the residual damage after an earthquake event, it lowers the energy dissipation of the structure which can compromise its seismic performance. Disclosed herein is the addition of steel plates at selected locations in moment-resisting frames to improve seismic performance of FRP-RC structures while still being able to take advantage of its linear behaviour (minimal residual damage after earthquake). The effectiveness of the proposed solution was tested both experimentally and analytically.