Beam-column joints strengthened with FRP systems

This paper presents the first results of an experimental campaign performed – at the Laboratory of Materials & Structures of the University of Salerno (Italy) – with the aim to investigate the seismic performance of RC beam-columns joints strengthened with FRP and steel systems. The complete test matrix includes eight specimens realized to be representative of existing exterior beam-column subassemblies with inadequate seismic details. Several technical solutions were selected in order to improve the joint seismic behaviour, and the performance of the first two strengthening systems is investigated in this paper. To this aim, three beam-column joints have been tested so far, i.e. two strengthened specimens and a reference (unstrengthened) one. Test results have begun to provide useful information for the adopted strengthening systems in terms of strength, ductility and energy dissipation capacity.