Abstract:
Use of fiber reinforced polymer composite as an externally strengthening method of concrete structures has
been growing rapidly in all over the world in recent years. But still in Sri Lanka the conventional methods are
used for strengthening the concrete structures. . As an initiation to use the method of strengthening using FRP
(Fiber Reinforced Polymer) in Sri Lanka, the behavior of the axially loaded square columns w rapped with
CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) was studied. This paper presents the test programme to evaluate
the axial load carrying capacity of square columns confined with CFRP. Two control specimens and two test
specimens were tested under pure axial compression up to failure. The lest results showed a considerable
increment in the failure load and the ultimate axial strain and a higher ductility due to the enlargement of the
failure zone in the CFRP confined columns compared to the unconfined c
