Strengthening of preloaded RC columns by post compressed plates-a review

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns, as the primary load-bearing structural components in buildings, may need to be strengthened due to material deteriorations, changes in usage, new building codes or new design requirements. The use of post compressed plates (PCP) to strengthen existing RC columns has been proven experimentally and practically to be effective in solving stress-lagging effects between the original column and the new strengthening jacket caused by the pre-existing loads. This paper presents a comprehensive summary and review of PCP strengthening techniques to strengthen preloaded RC columns. The failure mode, deformability, and ductility of the strengthened RC columns are reviewed.