Seismic Rehabilitation of Beam-Column Joints

This chapter discusses the importance of developing effective and economic rehabilitation techniques for the upgrade of the joint shear resistance capacity in existing structures. The study presented in the chapter is mainly experimental in nature. Several reinforced concrete beam–column joints are constructed. The joints are designed to simulate nonductile detailing characteristic of pre-seismic code construction. No transverse reinforcement is installed in the joint. The beam and column above and below the joint represent the lengths to the point of contraflexure in the frame beams and columns. The control specimen shows joint shear failure when subjected to cyclic load applied at the beam tip. Different fiber wrap rehabilitation schemes are applied to the joint panel with the objective of upgrading the shear strength of the joint. Cyclic load tests are conducted on the rehabilitated joints with increasing loads to failure. The tested rehabilitation techniques for beam–column joints, with the objective of upgrading the joint shear capacity, are successful in eliminating or delaying the shear mode of failure. Instead, the failure mode is transferred to flexural hinging of the beam that is a ductile mode of failure. The rehabilitation technique is found to be effective, simple to install, and non disruptive to the function of the building.