Experimental and numerical investigation on the behavior of composite reinforced concrete columns encased by steel section and hybrid GFRP section

GFRP was employed in constructions as an alternative to steel, which has many advantages like lightweight, large tensile strength and resist corrosion. Existing researches are insufficient in studying the influence of hybrid reinforced concrete composite columns encased by GFRP I-section (RCCCEG) and I-section steel (RCCCES). In this study twenty one (RC) specimens of a cross-section of 130 mm x 160 mm, with different length (long 1600 mm and short 750 mm) were encased by using I-section (steel and GFRP) and tested under various loading (concentric, eccentric and flexural loads). The test was focused on the influence of many parameters; load-carrying capacity, mode of failure, deformation and drawing an interaction diagram (N-M) for columns. The research explores the feasibility and effectiveness of the employing GFRP and steel sections. The test results concluded that all the composite columns with I-section steel presented similar failure modes to I-section GFRP composite column. Increasing in strength and ductility in short and slender reinforced concrete composite columns related to reinforced concrete columns. The eccentric load has a significant reduction in column strength, especially in slender column. The 3D FE models of (RCCC) were established by ABAQUS. (RCCC) was studied in terms of failure mode, deformation and bearing capacity also an analytical study was employed to obtain analytical results for short specimens subjected to flexural load and employing these outcomes for drawing interaction diagram (N-M) for short columns. Based on the verification of FE analysis, the experimental and theoretical results showed a good agreement.