Investigating the Performance of Reinforced Concrete Columns with FRP Plates under Blast Loading

In this research, the effect of FRP sheets on the flexural and shear performance of concrete columns of a structure against explosion has been investigated and strength and shear performance of concrete columns reinforced with FRP sheets against explosive loads is evaluated. In order to evaluate the performance of concrete columns against explosion and the effect of their shear reinforcement by FRP sheets, a square column with specific cross-sectional dimensions and a height of 3 meters has been considered. The column was subjected to an explosion of 82 kg of TNT at different distances from the column and was analyzed. The concrete column was reinforced with full sheath using FRP sheets and the results were compared to investigate the effect of reinforcement on the performance of the concrete column against explosion. Then, by modeling a 5-storey concrete building and in two modes without and by reinforcing FRP sheets at the end of the column and the connection fountain, we tried to improve the performance of the concrete building by controlling the shear in these areas. The results show that the use of FRP plates in the concrete column under explosive loading causes a significant reduction in horizontal displacement. This reduction is greater at closer distances, so that at 2.5, 5 and 10 meters distance from the explosive charge, a decrease of 52.6%, 32% and 31% of horizontal displacemen have been observed, respectively. Also, the use of FRP causes a large amount of kinetic energy due to the explosion to be wasted in the form of structural damage.