LAUSR

Abstract A novel strengthening method using prestressed (PS) carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips was proposed. This method can be used for repairing existing steel columns or constructing new columns for high-rise buildings, power transmission towers and other buildings. Specifically, a prestressing system (PS system) can be used to prestress CFRP strips without using a hydraulic jack. A steel column, PS CFRP strips and the PS system comprise a self-balanced system that offers much greater stiffness against overall buckling than a pure steel column. To verify this strengthening method, axial compression tests are conducted. The results show that the buckling load of the PS-strengthened specimen is 2.5 times greater than that of an unstrengthened specimen, and the failure mode ranges between the first order symmetric and the second order asymmetric overall buckling mode. In addition, finite element analysis (FEA) was adopted to obtain the optimal prestress value, which can also be used as a guide in design. Finally, a simple calculation method of axial bearing capacity was proposed.