DEVELOPING A DECISION-MAKING MODEL FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE COLUMNS STRENGTHENING

Steel tubes (ST) have long been used to strengthen RC columns, while the application of CFRP for this purpose is a recent practice. Both techniques have many advantages and shortcomings. In this paper, a multi-criteria decision-making model is introduced to quantify the selection of one of the two techniques. Four criteria and 28 factors affecting them are identified to develop the model. The selected criteria are cost, strengthening efficiency, durability, and project scope achievement. The model is fed by data collected from execution activities, field surveys and previous laboratory test results. The model has been validated and applied to a real case study. The detailed discussion and analysis indicated that many features support the use of CFRP in the investigated case study. Furthermore, the analysis emphasised that the strengthening efficiency and durability decide the selection while project scope achievement criterion is insignificant compared to other criteria. Ultimately, the obtained results from the case study provide the construction market with a decision that supports the use of the CFRP by 56 %, while the use of ST is only supported in 44 %.