Failure mechanism of fiber-reinforced polymer-confined concrete column with initial defects

The effect of initial defect size on the mechanical behavior and failure mode of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer- confined concrete column was investigated through theoretical analysis, finite element software simulation and experiment validation. Qualitative theoretical analysis was firstly explored to study the effect of initial defect size on the mechanical behavior of confined concrete column from macro to micro perspective. Numerical simulations and experimental investigation were then carried out and compared to investigate the mechanical behavior of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer-confined concrete column with initial defects under axial compression and eccentric compression. The variation of defect criticality was investigated by varying the layer number of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer and cross-section size of concrete columns. The effect of initial defect size on the failure mode of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer-confined concrete column was finally demonstrated.