Performance evaluation of axially loaded high strength ferrocement confined fibre reinforced concrete columns

The current investigation sought to study the structural characteristics of reinforced concrete (RC) columns, focussing on the synergistic effect of ferrocement confinement and fibre-reinforced concrete cores. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effects of incorporating high-strength mortar jacketing and steel fibre inclusion on the load-carrying capacity, ductility, and energy absorption. The findings of this research demonstrate that the load-carrying capacity of columns can be significantly enhanced through ferrocement wrapping, particularly when combined by incorporating steel fibres. The load capacity of columns confined with fibre-reinforced ferrocement showed a 51% increase, whereas columns confined with non-fibrous ferrocement displayed a 43% increase in load capacity compared to typical reinforced concrete (RC) columns. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that using steel fibres led to enhanced ductility and increased energy absorption. The columns that were confined using ferrocement and reinforced with fibre exhibited a notable boost in ductility, with a 2.9-times increase, as well as a major improvement in energy absorption, with a 3.3-fold increase, in comparison to the reference columns. The study’s findings suggest that combining ferrocement confinement and steel fibre reinforcement can significantly enhance the structural effectiveness of concrete columns, resulting in improved resilience and load-carrying capability.