International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 13 Issue: 01 | Jan 2026
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
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Experimental and Analytical Study on Axial Compression Behaviour of HYSD and GFRP Reinforced Concrete Columns Persi Angel P1, Dr T Kiran2, 1 Student of Master in Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Major: Structural Engineering, University of
Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Email: persiangel7@gmail.com
2 Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Visvesvaraya College of Engineering,
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Email: drkirantuvce@gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract - Reinforced concrete columns are primary load-
deformed (HYSD) steel bars have been widely used as longitudinal reinforcement in RC columns due to their high strength, ductility, and well-established design provisions. However, the long-term durability of steel-reinforced concrete structures has become a growing concern, particularly in aggressive environments where corrosion significantly reduces structural capacity and service life.
carrying members in structural systems, and their axial compression behaviour plays a crucial role in ensuring structural safety and performance. Conventionally, reinforced concrete columns are provided with high-yield strength deformed (HYSD) steel bars as longitudinal reinforcement. However, durability issues associated with steel corrosion have led to increased interest in alternative reinforcement materials such as glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. In the present study, an experimental and theoretical investigation is carried out to compare the axial compression behaviour of HYSD and GFRP reinforced concrete columns. A total of four reinforced concrete column specimens were cast with identical geometric dimensions and concrete grade, differing only in the type of longitudinal reinforcement. Axial compression tests were conducted to evaluate the ultimate load-carrying capacity, axial deformation behaviour, and failure characteristics of the specimens. The experimental results were further compared with theoretical axial load capacities calculated using established design provisions. The results indicate that HYSD reinforced columns exhibit higher axial load capacity and improved ductility due to the effective contribution of steel reinforcement. In contrast, GFRP reinforced columns showed relatively lower axial strength and a brittle failure response, primarily governed by concrete crushing. The study highlights the influence of reinforcement type on axial performance and provides useful experimental data supporting the potential application of GFRP bars in compression members where durability and corrosion resistance are critical considerations.
Corrosion of steel reinforcement leads to cracking, spalling of concrete, reduction in cross-sectional area of reinforcement, and loss of bond between steel and concrete. These deterioration mechanisms can severely affect the axial load-carrying capacity of reinforced concrete columns and may result in premature structural failure. As a result, there has been increasing interest in exploring alternative reinforcement materials that can mitigate corrosion-related issues while maintaining adequate structural performance. Among the various alternatives, fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) bars have gained considerable attention due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and nonmagnetic properties. Glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars are one of the most commonly used FRP reinforcements in concrete structures because of their relatively low cost compared to other FRP types such as carbon or aramid fibres. GFRP bars exhibit high tensile strength and excellent resistance to chemical attack; however, their behaviour under compression is significantly different from that of conventional steel reinforcement. Unlike steel, GFRP bars are linear elastic until failure and lack yielding characteristics, this fundamental difference in material behavior results in a comparatively brittle response, raising important concerns regarding the suitability of GFRP bars for use in compression members such as reinforced concrete columns.
Keywords: Axial compression behavior; Reinforced concrete columns; High-yield strength deformed (HYSD) steel reinforcement; Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcement Experimental investigation; Theoretical analysis; Failure behavior.
Several researchers have investigated the performance of FRP-reinforced concrete columns under axial compression. Experimental studies have shown that while FRP bars can provide confinement and improve durability, their direct contribution to axial load capacity is limited due to their low compressive strength and susceptibility to micro-buckling. Consequently, most design guidelines conservatively neglect the compressive contribution of FRP reinforcement and consider the axial capacity of FRP-reinforced columns to be primarily governed by concrete strength. This conservative
1. INTRODUCTION Reinforced concrete (RC) columns are fundamental structural elements responsible for transferring loads safely from the superstructure to the foundation. The performance of columns under axial compression plays a crucial role in ensuring the overall stability and safety of reinforced concrete structures. Traditionally, high-yield strength
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