Publication

Abstract : Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) strengthening of concrete structures is recognized as a promising structural retrofitting technique. However, this method uses extensive application of epoxy as a matrix to bind the FRP on the concrete surface, which is not considered as sustainable. The current study focuses on the behaviour of concrete cylinders strengthened using textile reinforced mortar (TRM) which includes natural fibers, when subjected to axial load conditions. The strength and durability of concrete cylinders confined with jute and basalt fibers, together with high strength mortar, were assessed. Various strength characteristics were analyzed on plain concrete cylinders with jute TRM, basalt TRM, and hybrid jute-basalt TRM systems with varied thicknesses of the TRM layers. The specimens underwent exposure to several environmental conditions, including acid, alkali, marine, and water. Test findings revealed that external confinement using hybrid TRM wraps containing jute fiber and basalt fiber boosted the load-carrying capacity by 51.93 %. The confinement efficacy for the acidic environment, alkaline environment, sea water environment and potable water environment were 1.98, 1.50, 1.52 and 1.50 respectively. The improved performance may be attributed to the inherent stiffness of hybrid fibers. Additionally, a finite element analysis (FEA) model using ABAQUS was used to simulate TRM confined concrete cylinders. The FEA model's ability to predict concrete cylinder performance when confined with a TRM system was proved by its strong correlation with the experimental data. The study's findings indicate that using natural TRM confinement as a retrofitting material for columns in various situations can effectively contribute to sustainable construction.