Research Projects

Preventive maintenance strategies for corroded reinforced concrete (RC) bridge columns are crucial to reduce sudden loss in functionality during earthquakes and associated risks. External jacketting with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) is popular due to its excellent mechanical properties and minimal contribution to the overall structure weight. A theoretical model for force-displacement behavior of post-strengthened corroded RC columns is needed, which is not available in the literature. One of the PI's ongoing research aims to develop theoretical models for force-displacement behavior of corroded RC columns when they are externally jacketed with FRP laminates. The research is conducted using the COMSOL-Multiphysics numerical platform and has developed a thorough numerical model for simulating pitting corrosion of a RC bridge column. The problem is challenging and computationally expensive due to multiple involved mechanisms such as chloride ingress through concrete, heat and moisture transport through the concrete media, electrochemical reactions leading to rebar corrosion, evolution of rust formation, and diameter reduction of rebars with time. The research will continue by analyzing columns with different degrees of corrosion degradation under mechanical loading before and after applying FRP jackets. Results will be validated using experimental observations, and post-validation, obtained results from various RC columns with different geometric attributes and levels of corrosion degradation will be used to develop the desired theoretical force-displacement models of FRP strengthened aging bridge columns. The proposed research seeks funding to purchase a workstation for this purpose.