Numerical Analysis Exterior RC Beam-Column Joints with CFRP Bars as Beam's Tensional Reinforcement under Cyclic Reversal Deformations

In this paper the cyclic lateral response of reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column joints with composite carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars as a longitudinal reinforcement in the beam is simulated with finite element (FE) modeling using software Abaqus. An experimental project of two full-scale joint specimens subjected to cyclic loading with supplementary accompanying pull-out tests of CFRP bars is also included in this study. These test results are used to calibrate the developed FE model, the constitutive laws of the materials and the bond response between CFRP bars and concrete. Comparisons between test data and numerical results indicate that the calibrated model accurately predicts the cyclic response of RC beam-column joint specimens with CFRP longitudinal bars as the beam's tensional reinforcement. A parametric analysis is also performed to provide useful concluding remarks concerning the design of concrete joints with composite bars and the ability of CFRP bars to substitute for conventional steel bars in RC structural members under seismic excitations.