Simplified plasticity damage model for large rupture strain (LRS) FRP-confined concrete

Large rupture strain (LRS) fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) composites with an elongation greater than 5% offer an attractive solution for seismic strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) columns. For a quick and reliable design of LRS FRP-strengthened RC columns, this paper presents a simplified plasticity damage model for LRS FRP-confined concrete under cyclic axial compression. This model consists of two parts: (a) a recent monotonic LRS FRP-confined concrete model developed by the authors’ group as an envelope curve and (b) a simplified linear plasticity damage cyclic rule for predicting unloading and reloading paths. To solve the cyclic model deviation induced by concrete softening under a large axial strain, a pseudo-plastic strain was proposed, based on which the damage degradation of FRP-confined concrete can be quantified. The model comparisons show that although the proposed model sacrificed some precision when directly applied for the cyclic axial compressive behavior of FRP-confined concrete, it can give similarly accurate predictions as a complex model does for the behavior of conventional or LRS FRP-jacketed RC columns under a combined axial load and cyclic lateral load. Thus, this simplified plasticity damage model serves as a promising basic model for simulation of the seismic performance of FRP-strengthened structures.