A new cyclic model for FRP-confined rubberized concrete

This article proposes a new constitutive model for the cyclic behavior of rubberized concrete confined with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets. The model is calibrated with experimental results from 18 confined rubberized concrete (CRuC) cylinders tested in cyclic compression. The cylinders had 60% total aggregate volume replacement with recycled tyre rubber. Parameters investigated include the type of confining material (Carbon or Aramid FRP) and number of layers (two, three, or four). The results indicate that using FRP confinement leads to a strong (up to 100 MPa) and highly deformable (axial strains up to 7%) rubberized concrete that can be used in structural applications. The proposed constitutive model predicts accurately the material response under cyclic loading and can thus be used for design/analysis of highly deformable components made of FRP CRuC. This article contributes toward the development of advanced constitutive models for FRP CRuC, thus promoting the wider use of recycled materials in construction industry.