Experimental Research on Full-Scale Reinforced Concrete Columns with Strong Confinement under Concentric Compression

To investigate the axial compressive behavior of reinforced concrete columns with strong confinement, a total of five full-scale reinforced concrete columns with stirrup characteristic values in the range 0.22~0.47 and section dimension 600mm×600mm were tested under concentric compression loading. The test results indicated that all specimens failed in a similar way. The longitudinal bars buckled in compression; the peripheral stirrups bowed out and several stirrups fractured; the cover concrete in the mid-height section of specimens spalled seriously; however, the core concrete of specimens was not crushed. The axial compressive bearing capacity and deformation ability of reinforced concrete columns could be improved by strong confinement. When specimens reached the ultimate bearing capacity, the longitudinal reinforcement yielded and provided axial bearing capacity for specimens; the transverse reinforcement reached tensile yield strength and provided effective confinement for the core concrete.