Experimental investigation on the behaviour of Fiber Reinforced Concrete Precast Columns under cyclic load

As part of more comprehensive research project on the investigation of the seismic response of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) structural elements, this study aims to investigate the influence of steel fiber reinforcement on behavior of precast columns under seismic loading. Eleven full-scale cantilever columns were tested under reversed cyclic loads with a constant axial load. Test results highlight the positive effect of fibers on the crack patterns by preventing the concrete cover to spall-out at earlier stages. SFRC improves the structural stiffness, the strength and the dissapted energy. In order to better understand fiber effects, nonlinear FE analyses, based on nonlinear fracture mechanics, were carried out to simulate the column behavior.