Steel jacketing of reinforced concrete (RC) columns is a common retrofitting technique used to restore bearing and deformation capacity of buildings presenting structural deficiencies. For practical reasons, steel angles are in several cases arranged leaving a gap with the end beams or slabs. Despite this disconnection, the angles are still able to support a non-negligible portion of load because of the frictional forces developed along the column-angle contact interface. In these cases, the definition of computational numerical and analytical models for the assessment of reinforced cross sections becomes more complex and must be handled with care. The actual load-carrying capacity of the angles is a function of lateral confinement pressure, cohesive strength, and the friction coefficient between the materials. This paper presents first the results of an original experimental campaign on RC column specimens with and without steel jacketing subjected to compressive axial and eccentric tests. Subsequently, a new approach is proposed to define a plane fiber-section model of the reinforced cross section accounting for the frictional action occurring along the column-angle interfaces. An equivalent stress-strain constitutive model for the angles is calibrated and validated through comparison with experimental results. Finally, a simple analytical stress-block procedure to derive continuous and simplified axial force bending moment domains is illustrated as a method for the hand-verification of reinforced cross sections.

This paper discusses an experimental investigation of clay brick columns that are externally strengthened by steel wire collars wrapping the horizontal mortar joints. The study aims to prove the effectiveness of the proposed strengthening technique and detect the efficiency of different numbers of steel collars. Additionally, the effect of eccentric loading is investigated. This paper proves that an analytical expression available in the previous literature can be modified to provide the strength of the equivalent homogeneous cross section in simple compression. To this aim, the biaxial strength domain of the bricks is modified to account for the lateral pressure exerted by the steel collars. Moreover, based on the plane cross-section assumption, moment-axial force domains are derived using mechanical parameters that are experimentally determined for the units, the steel collars, and the masonry under centered compression. Finally, the capacity of these domains to give accurate results in relation to the confinement effect produced by the proposed strengthening technique is discussed.

This work presents the results of an experimental investigation on the behavior of 21 solid clay brick columns internally strengthened by stainless steel grids placed in the horizontal joints of mortar. This reinforcing technique can be applied as a constructive technique for new construction or as a retrofitting technique for existing structures (old structures to be reconstructed by original constructive method and internal reinforcement). Monotonic compressive loading tests were carried out under concentric and eccentric load. The effects of different numbers of steel grids and eccentricity of the external load were examined. Also, a detailed characterization of the constituent materials was made experimentally. The compression tests show the effectiveness of the proposed strengthening technique, which proves to be able to produce the increases in strength and energy required to collapse brick columns under both concentric and eccentric loads. To provide an analysis method for practical applica...