Instantaneous Load Intensities Incorporated with a Cold Region Environment for CFRP-Confined Concrete in Axial Compression

This paper presents the durability performance of axially loaded concrete cylinders with or without carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) confinement subjected to a typical cold region environment associated with various instantaneous load intensities. These factors have been identified from previous research that examines critical attributes affecting the deterioration of constructed bridges in cold climate: aging and live load. A total of 31 cylinders are tested to study the effect of such critical factors. A three-dimensional finite-element model is developed to predict test results. Load-carrying capacity of the unconfined concrete decreases due to the environmental exposure and the decrease rate is accelerated with the presence of live load effects, including substantial crack propagation. For the confined cylinders, the effect of environment and instantaneous intensities is not significant in terms of strength and energy dissipation. The ACI440.2R-08 provisions are found to be adequate to estimate the capacity of CFRP-confined concrete subjected to a combined cold region environment and live load effect. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CC.1943-5614.0000272. (C) 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.