BEHAVIOR OF RC COLUMNS STRENGTHENED WITH STEEL JACKET UNDER STATIC AXIAL LOAD

: The column is one of the most significant structural elements, which is designed to support mainly the compressive load. Strengthening of existing reinforced concrete columns is required to enhance ductility and increase load capacity to sustain the overload as sometimes there may be a change in use. Ten rectangular concrete columns were constructed and tested. H/b ratio was kept constant and equals 6 for all columns The aim of this work is to study the behaviour and efficiency of RC columns strengthened with steel jackets subjected to axial load. An experimental study of the behaviour of ten strengthened concrete columns with slenderness ratio ( 𝐻 / 𝑏 ) equals 6 was carried out. Variables such as aspect ratio ( 𝑡 / 𝑏 ), the volume of steel batten plates, and spacing of steel batten plates at centres ( 𝑆 ) were considered. The results showed that using this method of strengthening is very effective and an increase in the axial load capacity of the strengthened columns is obtained.