Numerical Evaluation of Seismic Performance of RC Columns Strengthened with Stiff-Type Polyurea.

Abstract

After developing the experimental database of RC column specimens retrofitted with stiff-type polyurea (STPU), this study implemented STPU in finite-element (FE) modeling. The numerical analysis aimed to evaluate seismic performance factors by establishing a structural analysis model based on the experimental data. The model was calibrated and validated against experimental results, showing consistency in maximum displacement and strain within acceptable deviations. The key findings indicate that the dissipation energy and crack propagation were significantly reduced in reinforced specimens compared to unreinforced ones, demonstrating the effectiveness of STPU and glass fiber-reinforced polyurea (GFPU). The FE model further confirmed that circular specimens exhibited superior reinforcement effects compared to rectangular specimens due to their continuous surface geometry. These results enhance the understanding of STPU's seismic reinforcement capabilities and provide a foundation for its practical application. The study results are discussed in detail in the paper.