Confinement model for RC columns strengthened with direct-fastened steel plates

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns can be strengthened by direct fastening of steel plates around a column, forming composite actions. This method can increase both the total load bearing area and the concrete confinement stress. To predict the axial load resistance of strengthened RC columns, the equivalent passive confinement stress of the stirrups and the steel jacket should be accurately quantified, which requires the stress in the stirrups and shear force in the connections to be first obtained. In this paper, parameters, i.e., the stress ratio of the stirrups and shear force ratio of steel plate connectors are utilized to quantify the stress of the stirrups and shear force in the connections. A mechanical model for determining the stress ratio of the stirrups and shear force ratio of steel plate connectors is proposed and validated using the experimental results in a previous study. The model is found to be robust. Subsequently, a parametric study is conducted and the optimum stress ratios of the stirrups and the optimum shear force ratios of connectors are proposed for engineering designs.