Experimental study on square RC short columns strengthened with

corrugated steel jacket under axial compression

Yang Fana, Yang Ligui*,b, Wang Yuyin c,d, Fang Yong c,d, Jin Shuangshuang b, Chen Yunwen b, Xia Qilong a
a
No.3 Construction Co., Ltd. of Chongqing Construction Engineering Group;
b
School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China;
c
Key Lab of Structures Dynamic Behaviour and Control of the Ministry of Education, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin150090, China;
d
School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Heilongjiang, Harbin150090, China

Abstract: In the long-term service of life, structural columns may experience mechanical
performance degradation due to environmental erosion, various hazards, and functional modifications.
This study proposes a novel concrete column reinforcement method utilizing square corrugated steel
jackets as external confinement components, which significantly enhances both bearing capacity and
ductility of original members. To investigate the mechanical performance improvement mechanisms
and load-carry mode, 10 axially compressed short column specimens were designed. Detailed analyses
were conducted surrounding the effects of connection methods for corrugated sheets, corrugated steel
thickness, and damage levels on load-displacement curves, as well as stress and strain development
patterns. A computational model for ultimate bearing capacity of reinforced sections was established.
Key findings include: (1) The use of corrugated steel sleeves can enhance the ultimate bearing capacity
of the original short columns by 34.6% to 67.3%. (2) Considering that the confinement effect of square
sleeves is not optimal, it is more material-efficient to use thinner corrugated steel plates to achieve
similar results. (3) There is no significant difference in the effects of connection types on mechanical
performance. (4) The cracking and softening of damaged concrete can enhance the confinement effect
in corrugated steel-strengthened reinforced concrete columns. (5) The confined concrete strength
model can be used to accurately predict the ultimate bearing capacity.

Keywords: Concrete-filled corrugated steel tube (CFCST), corrugated steel sheet, confined concrete,
axial compression, ultimate load-bearing capacity.

1
1 Introduction

The safety and durability of buildings during urbanization are critical factors for modern
construction [1]. Throughout their service life, structural systems inevitably experience damage or
even collapse due to the influence of natural factors such as wind disasters, floods, fires, earthquakes,
and other extreme events, as well as human-induced impacts [2]-[5] (as illustrated in Fig. 1). These
challenges pose significant risks to urban development. Given the growing complexity of building
systems, ensuring long-term safety and durability has become an increasingly pressing issue [6]. In
recent years, many aged structures have already exhibited performance impairments due to the
progressive degradation of their load-carrying capacity and ductility. Such impairments can lead to
reduced serviceability and increased vulnerability to failure events. In modern urban renewal efforts,
faced with aged structures that have not yet met demolition standards, demolishing and rebuilding
requires substantial economic investment while generating massive construction waste, causing
environmental pollution, and wasting valuable human resources and time. A large number of buildings
constructed in the 20th century are currently entering a stage requiring urgent reinforcement and
retrofitting [7]. Simultaneously, many culturally significant heritage buildings also demand ongoing
daily maintenance and preservation [8]. Therefore, repairing, reinforcing, or retrofitting damaged
existing structures is often an ideal choice, which combines economic efficiency with long-term
benefits in terms of structural performance and sustainability.

(a) natural aging (b) lack of vibrating(c) ground settlement

(d) earthquake damage (e) fire damage

Fig. 1. Damage and failure of column

Columns serve as the most critical vertical load-bearing components in buildings, and their
2
effective load carrying is particularly important for ensuring the overall structural safety of a building.
The low-story columns of high-rise buildings, due to their relatively larger axial compression ratio, are
more susceptible to damage if their bearing capacity becomes insufficient[11]. This can lead to
significant safety risks. Various structural reinforcement methods for reinforced concrete columns, as
shown in Fig. 2, have been proposed to address these issues, including: enlarging section using
concrete [12]-[16], Strengthening using steel angles and strips[17],[18], jacketing with steel
sheets[19]-[21].

(a) enlarging section (b) steel jacketing (c) angle steel and strips encapsulating (d) CFRP wrapping
Fig.2. Typical strengthening method of column.
In recent years, more methods have been developed to strengthen reinforced concrete columns
using novel high-strength materials, such as glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) tubes, ultra-high-
performance concrete (UHPC), carbon fiber-reinforced columns, and concrete columns wrapped with
CFRP strips or fabrics [22]-[31]. Ghobarah and Bidda (1997) [32][33] proposed a method of
reinforcing beams and columns using corrugated steel sleeves. As shown in Fig. 3, the corrugated steel
sheets are assembled into sleeves to encase the damaged column ends and beam-column joints after
an earthquake, which is similar to Tommi’s earlier proposal for corrugated steel tube columns [34].
The externally applied corrugated steel jackets significantly increase the load-bearing capacity of the
columns due to their circumferential confinement to the core concrete. Yang et al. (2020) [35]
investigated the compressive behaviour of the concrete-filled corrugated steel tubular columns, and
found that even with thin walls, corrugated steel can provide excellent circumferential confinement to
the core component.
Considering the mechanical advantages, concrete columns strengthened with a corrugated steel
jacket may exhibit good mechanical performance due to the combined benefits of the jacket’s
encasement and the corrugations’ interlocking effect [36]. The jacket also prevents secondary cracking
or spalling of the repair layer during service, thereby eliminating the need for frequent inspections. In

3
addition, retrofitting existing reinforced concrete columns with galvanized corrugated steel provides
excellent corrosion resistance due to the protective zinc coating and dense oxide film on the surface of
the galvanized steel [37]. This results in both maintenance-free service performance and reduced
management/maintenance costs. The corrugated steel jacket can serve as formwork due to its
significant transverse stiffness. Compared to conventional steel plate reinforcement, this method
reduces structural steel usage and minimizes on-site welding operations.
A composite member can be obtained by using corrugated steel plates or tubes to enhance a
reinforced concrete (RC) column. For similar concrete columns, Fang et. al. [38][39] investigated the
load-bearing capacity of circular-section galvanized corrugated steel tube infilled with concrete
(CFDST) and built a design approach for such a novel composite column. For concrete-filled square
corrugated steel tubular columns, Zou Y. [40], Yu C. [41], and Nassirnia M. [42] conducted
compression and eccentric compression tests, demonstrating that the sleeve method effectively
constrains the core concrete. They explained, from a theoretical perspective, why corrugated steel
sleeves can significantly restore and enhance the mechanical performance of concrete. Lu and Fang et
al. (2024) [43] studied the hysteresis performance of concrete-filled double-skin corrugated steel tubes
under combined compression and cyclic lateral loads, revealing that the confinement effect of the
corrugated steel tube plays a critical role in improving the ductility of the column. They also proposed
design formulas for the compression-bending combined resistance of such a hollow-section member.
Handousa A. and Abdellatief M. et al. (2025) [44] employed two machine learning models to predict
the ultimate load-bearing capacity of concrete-filled corrugated steel tubular columns: Artificial Neural
Network (ANN) and Gaussian Process Regression (GPR).
As the structural enhancement mechanisms of corrugated steel to the damaged concrete is
overlooked in existing studies, this investigation examines the corrugated steel jacketing the concrete
column with damage through comprehensive experimental and analytical approaches. Ten short-
column specimens were fabricated and subjected to axial compression testing, with particular emphasis
on elucidating failure patterns, and ultimate load characteristics. A parametric test was systematically
conducted, incorporating three primary variables: connection configuration, corrugated steel plate
thickness (ranging 1.6-2.7 mm), and initial damage severity (quantified by 40-100% initial
compression ratio). Throughout experimental procedures, the strain evolution in the corrugated steel

4
jackets was continuously monitored, and complemented by elastoplastic analysis to characterize stress
redistribution phenomena. The study clarifies the composite action mechanism whereby the
confinement from corrugated steel effectively enhances the residual capacity of the damaged concrete
core through triaxial compression. Building upon the established ultimate state model of axially
compressed sections, a novel theoretical method was developed incorporating confinement and
damage reduction factors, enabling precise prediction of retrofitted RC columns’ load-bearing capacity
with less than 1.86% deviation from experimental values. Calculation methods recommended by the
existing codes were modified for such a strengthened cross section. From the systematically
comparison results, a simple calculation formula was suggested in the application.

Embedded rebars

Angle steel

RC column
Corrugated steel jacket

Bolts
Grout

Corrugated steel sheet

Fig. 3. Diagram of strengthening RC columns by corrugated steel jacket.

2 Experimental arrangements
2.1 Specimens parameters
As illustrated in Table 1, ten specimens were designed to observe the confinement effect of
corrugated steel jacket to the concrete. To quantitatively compare the enhancement in load-bearing
capacity, there is one reinforced concrete (RC) short column directly compressed to be crushed. The
original RC parts of all specimens are fabricated with the same reinforcement ratio (longitudinal bars
5
ratio=1.1%, and stirrups ratio=0.5%). The corrugated steel plates are formed by bending Q355 steel
plates, and the corrugation profile length×height is 68×13 mm×mm. The reinforcement layer is filled
with grout, filling gap of 14-22mm according to measurement.
Table 1. Parameters of specimens
fc
No. Specimens tcs (mm) tg (mm) B (mm) L (mm) σ0 Nu (kN) Connection type
(MPa)
1 RC / / 200×200 748 / 44.5 2117.7 /
2 CS-A-2-0.4 2.0 14.0 241×241 748 0.4fc 44.5 2957.4 Connection A
3 CS-B-2-0.4 2.0 21.5 256×256 748 0.4fc 44.5 3101.1 Connection B
4 CS-C-2-0.4 2.0 17.0 247×247 748 0.4fc 44.5 3125.6 Connection C
5 CS-D-1.6-0.4 1.6 22.0 257×257 748 0.4fc 54.9 3361.3 Connection D
6 CS-D-2.7-0.4 2.7 22.0 257×257 748 0.4fc 54.9 3314.0 Connection D
7 CS-D-2-0.4 2.0 22.0 257×257 748 0.4fc 54.9 3543.4 Connection D
8 CS-D-2-0.6a 2.0 22.0 257×257 748 0.6fc 54.9 3365.8 Connection D
9 CS-D-2-0.6b 2.0 22.0 257×257 748 0.6fc 54.9 3412.9 Connection D
10 CS-D-2-1.0 2.0 22.0 257×257 748 1.0fc 44.5 2850.9 Connection D
Notes: “CS” represents the corrugated steel plate reinforced specimen; “A” indicates that the corner the corrugated

steel is connected with angle steel and flange plate bolted connection; “B” indicates that the corrugated steel is

connected by bolts along with the vertical line in the middle of the specimen; “C” indicates that the corner connection

of the corrugated steel is bolted with a special-shaped steel; “D” indicates that the corrugated steel and angle steel

are fully welded. For example, CS-A-2-0.4 means that the corner connection of the corrugated steel is the type-A,

the corrugated steel wall thickness is 2 mm, and the initial damage stress reaches 0.4fc.

The specimen is designed with three influencing factors, namely the corner connection type,
corrugated steel thickness, and the degree of concrete initial stress. The corrugated steel sleeve of the
specimen is made by splicing several corrugated steel sheets. To ensure the effectiveness of the
connection configurations for the corrugated steel, four different connection types of the corrugated
steel plates were compared, as shown in Fig. 4.
(1) Connection-A: Angle steel is welded to the corrugated steel plate, and two L-shaped units are
bolted together at the corner to form the sleeve.
(2) Connection-B: The corrugated steel plates are pre-welded into U-shaped units using angle
steel, and then two U-shaped units are connected into a sleeve using a group of bolts.
(3) Connection-C: Similar to Connection-A, but the angle steel is replaced with a τ-shaped special
connector to increase the flow space for grouting at the corner.

6
 (4) Connection-D: Each corrugated steel plate is directly welded to the angle steel in the corner.
The corrugated steel plates of the specimen are designed with three wall thicknesses: 1.6 mm, 2.0
mm, and 2.7 mm, to study the effect of corrugated steel wall thickness on the mechanical properties of
reinforced concrete columns strengthened with corrugated steel sleeves. To investigate the impact of
different damage levels on the load-carrying capacity enhancement, specimens with initial axial
compression ratios of σ0/fc= 0.4, 0.6, and 1.0 (i.e., on ultimate state) were also set up for reinforcement.
Bolts Bolts Bolts Welding

(a) Connection A (b) Connection B (c) Connection C (d) Connection D

Fig. 4 Connection types.

2.2 Arrangement of specimens
The workflow of fabrication process of axially compressed short columns and strengthening
specimens includes: reinforcement cage fabrication, concrete pouring and curing, angle steel welding,
corrugated steel plate cutting and welding, strengthening jacket fabrication, damage applying, sleeve
enclosure, and interlayer grout pouring.
Based on the initial axial compression ratio designed in Table 1, varying magnitudes of axial
pressure are applied to reinforced concrete short columns to replicate the stress states of actual
structural columns. Subsequently, the pressure is unloaded to zero to simulate the vertical support
removal effect in strengthening structures. Following Fig. 4 specifications, a connection sleeve is
fabricated and installed around the damaged reinforced concrete specimen. Grout is then poured into
the interlayer between the concrete and corrugated steel plates. To ensure full filling of the corrugated

7
steel-concrete interlayer, a two-stage pouring process is adopted:
(1) First-stage pouring: As shown in Fig.5, the column is vertically positioned on the ground.
Grout is poured from top to bottom through gaps near the upper end and vibrated to ensure compaction.
After initial setting of the first-stage grout (cured for one day),
(2) Second-stage pouring: The specimen is laid horizontally for secondary pouring. Steel plates
are welded to seal the structure.
Upon achieving sufficient strength in the strengthening layer grout, second-phase loading is
initiated until complete failure of specimen occurs.

(a) first casting (b) second casting (c) covering plate

Fig. 5 Casting grout.

2.3 Loading and measurement

The testing was conducted in the Structural Laboratory at Chongqing Jiaotong University. A
four-column servo press machine with a capacity of 10,000 kN was employed to act vertical force to
the specimens (see Fig. 6). To minimize strain lag effects, low-rate loading was applied, with the entire
test conducted at a constant displacement rate of 0.02 mm/min, ensuring that the dynamic increase
factor (DIF) approached 1.0 as closely as possible. Loading was discontinued once the applied load
decreased and reached 85% of the ultimate capacity.
The reaction force of the specimens was measured using force sensors located on the loading
plate beneath the press machine. Axial displacement was monitored using linear variable differential
transformers (LVDTs), with data recorded by a static testing system, as shown in Fig. 6. Due to the
significant variations in strain at the peaks, troughs, and flat segment of the corrugated steel plates, six
strain measurement points were installed at these locations on both sides of the column at mid-height
of the strengthened column specimens. Considering that the principal stresses are oriented orthogonally,
strain gauges for each measurement point were affixed along both the transverse and longitudinal

8
directions of the corrugation pattern.
RC specimen Strengthened specimen

LVDT Crest
Middle
Trough
LVDT
Measurement points:
Strain gauges

Fig. 6 Loading and measurement sets.

2.4 Material strength

2.4.1 Steel
To test the mechanical properties of steel, samples of corrugated steel plates, angle steels, and
reinforcing bars were taken according to the provisions of Metal Materials Tensile Test – Part 1:
Method for Room Temperature Tests (GB/T 228.1-2010) [46], Steel for Reinforced Concrete – Part 2:
Hot-Finished Ribbed Bars (GB/T 1499.2-2018) [47], and the standard test methods and definitions for
steel mechanical properties (ASTM A370-17a [48]). As shown in Fig. 7, due to the varying degrees of
cold bending at different local positions on the corrugated steel plates, samples were taken from
locations including peaks and flat segment of corrugated steel plates with different thicknesses. During
tensile testing, loading was applied at a strain rate of 2.5×10-4 /s.

Fig. 7. Corrugated steel test

9
 In practical engineering applications, the yield strength of corrugated steel plates is generally
directly taken as the strength of the plate parent material. However, the increase in steel strength due
to cold bending is considered as a safety margin. To accurately obtain the stresses in the experiment,
the actual strength should be imported into the stress analysis model, this study adopted the yield
strength after cold bending of the corrugated steel plate. The stress-strain tensile curve of cold-bent
corrugated steel plates does not show an obvious yield plateau. Therefore, the yield strength was
determined using the 0.2% residual strain method. The results are summarized in Table 2:

Table 2. Steel strength.

Tensile coupons fy /N/mm2 fu /N/mm2

Corrugated segment (t=1.6mm) 332.81 356.97
Flat segment (t=1.6mm) 281.34 375.36
Corrugated segment (t=2.0mm) 389.42 437.31
Flat segment (t=2.0mm) 382.35 438.60
Corrugated segment (t=2.7mm) 413.99 464.85
Flat segment (t=2.7mm) 401.71 477.30
Angle steel (t=4.0mm) 346.56 523.27
Longitudinal bars (d=12.0mm) 443.20 589.46
Stirrups (d=6.0mm) 355.20 422.68

2.4.2 Concrete
The test used artificially configured concrete, with the 42.5 ordinary Portland cement. The mass
ratio per cubic meter of concrete was as follows: cement/sand/aggregates/water = 376/704/1148/184.
The water reducer dosage was 1.2% of the weight of the cementitious materials. During concrete
pouring, nine 150-mm concrete cubes were arranged. These test cubes and specimens were all cured
under the standard conditions as the specimens for 28 days, with an actual loading age of five months.
In accordance with the Code for Test Methods of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Concrete
(GB/T50081-2019) [49], the compressive strength tests were conducted using a 200-ton hydraulic
testing machine at the Structural Testing Laboratory of the College of Civil Engineering, Chongqing
Jiaotong University. The measured strength data deviating by more than 15% from the average strength
value were excluded. As a result, the 28-days cubic compressive strength is 38.5 N/mm². In the time
period of loading specimens, the average compressive strength of concrete cubes is 72.2 and 58.5
N/mm² corresponding to 2 different batches of concrete in specimens. The average compressive
strength of prisms [49] is calculated as 54.9 and 44.5 N/mm², respectively.
10
2.4.3 Grout
According to the Technical Specifications for Application of Cement-Based Grout Materials
(GB50488-2015) [50], when the maximum aggregate size in cement-based grout materials does not
exceed 4.75 mm, the prism with dimensions of 40 mm×40 mm×160 mm is recommended to test the
compressive strength. Considering the thin reinforcement layer thickness (tg is 14-22 mm), six prisms
with dimensions of 40 mm × 40 mm × 160 mm was used. The compressive strength test was conducted
in accordance with the Cement Mortar Strength Testing Method (ISO Method) (GB/T 17671-2021)
[51]. The average compressive strength of the grout prism was 37.1 N/mm².

3 Experiment Results
3.1 Failure modes
All specimens showed no significant damage until the applied load reached its peak. Only when
the load began to decrease, minor buckling occurred at the corner steel angles, while the specimens
remained intact overall, with no obvious lateral bulging (Figs. 8 and 9). It indicates that even with a
steel plate thickness as thin as 1.6 – 2.7 mm, i.e., width-to-thickness ratios ranging from 74 to 125,
sufficient confinement can still be achieved. It can be validated by comparisons of the load-
displacement curves obtained from experimental tests and stress analysis results.

(a) connection A (b) connection B (c) connection C (d) connection D

Fig. 8. Typical failure of specimens.

11
 (a) connection A (b) connection B (c) connection C (d) connection D
Fig. 9. Local failure in specimens.

For the specimen with Connection A, no significant damage occurred throughout the entire
loading process. At 75% of the ultimate load, slight local buckling and loosening were observed
between the two bolts at the mid-section’s steel angles and flange plates.
For the specimen with the Connection B (Fig. 8), during the initial loading to peak load, no
significant changes occurred on the external surface of the steel plates, angles, and the central
connection of the corrugated steel sheets. As displacement increased further and loading was applied
until the load reached 80% of the ultimate load (i.e., 2500 kN), minor buckling occurred at the corner
angles. When the load was reduced to 60% of the ultimate load (1900 kN), a peeling trend was
observed between the two corrugated steel sheets at the central connection, with slight lateral bulging
of the adjacent steel plates.
For the specimen with Connection C, no significant changes occurred until the load was reduced
to 90% of the ultimate load. At that moment, a muffled sound was heard, suggesting potential crushing
of the core concrete or grout between the layers. Continued loading to 50% of the ultimate load resulted
in local buckling and separation of the two corner connected parts, while the bolts remained intact
without loosening.
For the specimen with Connection D, including specimens with different damage levels (different
initial axial compression ratios), no significant phenomena can be observed until the load was reduced
to 70% of the ultimate load.
3.2 Load-Displacement Curves
During the early stages of loading, even though the core concrete had developed some plastic
behavior, the rest of the concrete remained in the elastic working stage due to the enhanced section.
As a result, the curve initially exhibited roughly linear-elastic behavior. When the load increased and
exceeded the original ultimate bearing capacity of the RC section, the specimen curve began to show

12
curvature, with the onset of plastic deformation. Upon reaching the critical state, the load started to
decrease, and the peak deformation corresponding to the load was approximately twice the original
RC section’s peak deformation. The ductility in the descending segment was also significantly better
than that of the plain RC specimens.
From the comparison, it can be observed that after being wrapped with sleeves and having its
section enlarged, the ultimate bearing capacity was significantly strengthened. Although some cracking
occurred under the initial axial compression, potentially reducing the strength, the constrained
concrete’s strength was enhanced due to the confinement effect. As a result, the ultimate bearing
capacity increased from 2117.7 kN to 2850.9 - 3543.4 kN, representing an increase of 34.6% to 67.3%.
As compared in Fig. 10，there is no obvious impact on the load-to-displacement curves of
specimens with different thickness of the corrugated steel jacket. It suggests that the confinement of
the corrugated steel jacket may not be taken full advantage. As well, the enhanced ultimate capacity
and ductility are both far greater than that of the original RC section, indicating that it may be
unnecessary to design a thick jacket.
The comparison in Fig. 11 shows little difference among the four connection types in terms of
ultimate bearing capacity. However, regarding connection strength, the specimen Connection D with
full welding at the corner has the highest strength, resulting in the most reliable radial confinement. As
shown in Table 1, the concrete compressive strength of CS-D-1.6-0.4 is 54.9 N/mm2, 23.4% higher
than the other 3 specimens with different connection (44.5 N/mm2). As a result, its ultimate bearing
capacity (3361.3 kN) is 9.8% greater than the mean value other 3 specimens. In specimen Connection
C, a sharp drop in load occurred when residual load was reduced to 3000 kN, potentially due to the
steel plate at the corner experiencing reduced effective cross-section and decreased compressive
stiffness because of openings or dense welds, leading to local buckling. However, after reaching around
2000 kN, the load decline slowed down as residual capacity was regained due to circumferential
confinement. For specimen Connection B, its bearing capacity is moderate. After loading ended, only
slight gaps were observed at the wave plate connections. Compared to other connection forms, this
might represent the most suitable connection type. The specimen Connection A exhibits unique
behaviour: its load bearing capacity remained stable for a period after reaching peak load. However,
when compressive displacement reached 4 mm (compression strain = 0.005), local instability failure

13
occurred due to multi-wave buckling of the angle steel, causing a sudden drop in bearing capacity. As
lateral confinement became effective, the rate of load decline slowed down.

+56.5%-67.3% Connection D
Load, N (kN)

Load, N (kN)
Connection A Connection B Connection C
ε=0.00167

ε=0.00401

+140%
Thickness:

Displacement, Δ (mm) Displacement, Δ (mm)

Fig. 10. Influence of thickness of jacket. Fig. 11. Influence of connection type.

As shown in Fig. 12, the performance enhancement of RC sections strengthened at different initial
damage rates varies in the load-displacement (N-Δ) curves. The load bearing capacity of the
strengthened specimens decrease with the increasing initial compression ratio. For initial axial
compression ratios of 0.4 and 0.6, the N-Δ curves are relatively similar; nevertheless, an increase in
the initial axial compression ratio still results in reduced reinforcement improvement effects. For the
specimens with an initial axial compression ratio from 0.4 to 0.6, the increase in bearing capacity
compared to the RC section decreases from 67.3% to 60.0%. However, in extreme cases where the
initial axial compression ratio reaches 1.0 (i.e., concrete stress reaches the ultimate strength value), the
concrete softens remarkably, with its modulus and residual strength sharply decreasing. Therefore,
enhancing confinement of the section results in a significant reduction in initial stiffness. Yet, the
ultimate bearing capacity still increases by 34.6% compared to the original RC section. The softening
is not only reflected in load-bearing capacity but also in deformation capacity. Based on the increased
confinement factor due to reduced concrete strength, it can be deduced that more severe damage to the
reinforced section may lead to greater peak deformation, as the outer jacket provides relatively stronger
confinement.

14
 Load, N (kN)
Damaged RC specimen

σ0 / fc = 0.4
σ0 / fc = 0.6
σ0 / fc = 1.0

Displacement, Δ (mm)

Fig. 12. Influence of initial damage.

3.3 Strength index and ductility index

As the concrete strength was not completely the same in the test, a further analysis is necessary
based on dimensionless indicators. The strength index (SI) [52] can be used for estimate the load carry
capacity of an ordinary reinforced concrete section strengthened by corrugated steel jacket, which can
be calculated as following:

Nu
SI = (1)
f cAc + f c,g Ag + fs As

where Nu, fs and As are respectively the ultimate load bearing capacity of the column, compressive
strength and sectional area of longitudinal bars.
The ductility index, DI, well represents the deformation capacity and energy absorption of a
structural member [52]. As shown below:

DI =  85% /  y (2)

where ε85% and εy are the axial compressive strain corresponding to 0.85Nu in the descending stage and
yield compressive strain. The εy can be obtained using the farthest point method proposed by Feng P
et. al. (2017) [53].
The confinement factor, ξ, is an important index to assess the mechanical behaviour of concrete-
filled tubular columns [52]. If the columns were not damaged, the ξ should be slightly minor. Because
the confining tube is constructed after the damaged of concrete, the residual compressive strength of
the concrete with damage (𝑓c′ ) should be employed to calculate ξ:

f y,cs Acs + f y,L AL

= (3)
f cAc + f c,g Ag
15
where 𝑓c′ , fc,g, fy,cs, fy,L and Ac, Ag , Acs, AL are respectively the compressive strength of damaged
concrete and grout, yield strength of corrugated steel sheet and angle steel, and the areas of them.
As shown in Fig. 13, the strength index (SI) and ductility index (DI) exhibit a strong dependence
on two key parameters: the confinement factor (ξ) and the initial compressive stress ratio (σ0/fc).
Increased ξ enhances both SI and DI, reflecting enhanced confinement effects. In contrast, the initial
compressive stress ratio (σ0/fc) influences SI and DI differently. The increase in σ0/fc reduces SI due to
more cracks developing in the concrete, while it simultaneously enhances DI due to the softening
behavior of the concrete. In terms of the connection type of corrugated steel jacketing, CS-B-2-0.4
shows a similar DI to CS-D-2-0.4, indicating that the bolts connection may have a satisfactory strength
as the welding in the corner if the design of connection strength is rational.
Table 3. SI and DI of specimens
No. Specimens σ0 (MPa) α ξ N0 (kN) Nu (kN) SI DI
1 RC 0 0 0 / 2117.7 1.0 1.86
2 CS-A-2-0.4 0.4fc 5.45% 0.45 2733.5 2957.4 1.082 2.95
3 CS-B-2-0.4 0.4fc 4.25% 0.38 2845.2 3101.1 1.090 2.21
4 CS-C-2-0.4 0.4fc 4.88% 0.43 2767.1 3125.6 1.130 1.70
5 CS-D-1.6-0.4 0.4fc 3.64% 0.24 3264.2 3361.3 1.030 2.59
6 CS-D-2.7-0.4 0.4fc 5.23% 0.42 3264.2 3314.0 1.015 2.43
7 CS-D-2-0.4 0.4fc 4.22% 0.32 3264.2 3543.4 1.086 2.25
8 CS-D-2-0.6a 0.6fc 4.22% 0.32 3249.4 3365.8 1.036 1.91
9 CS-D-2-0.6b 0.6fc 4.22% 0.32 3249.4 3412.9 1.050 2.14
10 CS-D-2-1.0 1.0fc 4.22% 0.39 2821.7 2850.9 1.010 3.51

1.2 1.14
σ0/fc=0.6 ξ: 0.32-0.39
1.12
Strength Index, SI
Strength Index, SI

1.15
1.1
1.1 σ0/fc=0.4
RC 1.08
1.05 1.06
1 1.04
σ0/fc=1
0.95 1.02
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Confinement factor, ξ Initial compressive stress ratio, σ0/fc

(a) impact of confinement factor on SI (b) impact of initial compressive stress on SI

16
 4 4
3.5

Ductility Index, DI
Ductility Index, DI

3.5
3
3 2.5
2.5 2
1.5
2
1
1.5 RC
0.5
RC CS-C-2-20-0.4
1 0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Confinement factor, ξ Initial compressive stress ratio, σ0/fc

(c) impact of confinement factor on DI (d) impact of initial compressive stress on DI

Fig. 13 Influence factors on SI and DI.

4 Confinement Mechanism
4.1 Load Carrying Mode
Previous studies on corrugated steel concrete columns have shown that the primary role of the
corrugated steel is to provide circumferential confinement [35][36][38]. Similarly, in reinforced
concrete sections strengthened with corrugated steel plates, the outer corrugated steel plates bear
minimal longitudinal loads and mainly provide lateral confinement. The parts directly carry the axial
load include the original RC section, the reinforcement layer grout, and the corner connection
components of the sleeves. It can be verified by examining the development patterns of strain and
stress.
4.1.1 Strain of corrugated jacket
The strain of corrugated steel plates is influenced by their corrugation profile, with variations in
strain occurring across the crests, troughs, and flat segment within one period of corrugation. For
transverse strain, overall tensile strain is relatively small, possibly due to the placement of strain gauges
farther from the corners, where the confinement is the greatest in a square or rectangular cross section
[54]-[57]. In the middle regions, steel does not need to provide significant confinement, resulting in
reduced transverse tensile strain. For longitudinal strain, the trough of the corrugated steel plate
exhibits a more pronounced compressive longitudinal strain, indicating that the concave trough may
take on part of the load. Conversely, the crest shows nearly zero longitudinal strain, suggesting that the
convex crest relieves some of the applied stress. This phenomenon, known as the “bending effect,”
was proposed by Wang and Yang et al. (2019) [36] under compressive loading conditions.
17
4.1.2 Stresses of corrugated jacket
To observe the load bearing mode of the corrugated jacket, the stresses of CSP is calculated by
using the elastic-plastic analysis [35][36][58]. Based on the transverse and longitudinal strain, the
stress components and Mises stress at the crest, middle and trough on the outer surface of corrugated
plates are obtained.
(1) Plane elastic-plastic analysis method
For the stress at different positions on the corrugation, the respective Poisson’s ratio, elastic
modulus, and steel yield strength are incorporated into the calculations to obtain a more precise
analysis of the corrugated steel plate stress. Since the corrugations in the steel plates run horizontally,
the principal stresses in the columns under axial compression are primarily in the horizontal and
vertical directions. Given that the shear stress within the corrugated steel plates is relatively small, only
these two directional normal stresses were analyzed in the test.
In the elastic stage, the stress components meet the generalized Hooke's Law:
𝜎ℎ 𝐸𝑠 1 𝜇𝑠 𝜀ℎ
[𝜎 ] = [ ][ ] (4)
𝑣 2
1 − 𝜇𝑠 𝑠 𝜇 1 𝜀𝑣
where εh, εv, σh, σv, Es and μs are respectively the horizontal strain, vertical strain, horizontal stress,
vertical stress, elastic modular and Poisson ratio.
In the elastic-plastic stage, the Es and μs can be replaced by the tangential modular (𝐸st ) and elastic-
plastic Poisson ratio (μsp):

𝜎ℎ 𝐸𝑠𝑡 1 𝜇𝑠𝑝 𝜀ℎ
[𝜎 ] = [ ][ ] (5)
𝑣 2 𝜇
1 − 𝜇𝑠𝑝 𝑠𝑝 1 𝜀𝑣

(𝑓𝑦 − 𝜎) 𝜎
𝐸𝑠𝑡 = 𝐸𝑠 (6)
(𝑓𝑦 − 𝑓𝑝 ) 𝑓𝑝

𝜎 − 𝑓𝑝
𝜇𝑠𝑝 = 0.283 + 0.167 (7)
𝑓𝑦 − 𝑓𝑝

The stress-strain relation is more complex in the plastic stage, which can be expressed by:

𝜎ℎ 𝐸𝑠 𝜎 ′2 + 2𝑝 2𝜇𝑠 𝑝 − 𝜎ℎ′ 𝜎𝑣′ 𝜀ℎ

[𝜎 ] = [ 𝑣 ] [𝜀 ] (8)
𝑣 𝑄 2𝜇𝑠 𝑝 − 𝜎ℎ′ 𝜎𝑣′ 𝜎𝑣′2 + 2𝑝 𝑣

where the parameters can be calculated by the following equations (9-14).

 h =  h −  cp (9)
18
  v =  v −  cp (10)

h +v
 cp = (11)
3
d
H = = 3 10−3 Es (12)
d p

2 H  (1 −  s )  z2
Q =  h +  v + 2 s h v +
2 2
(13)
9G

 z =  h2 +  v2 −  h v (14)

(2) Strain and stress analysis result

Since strain was recorded on both sides of the cross-section at the same position in the corrugation,
two load-strain curves were obtained, as shown in Figs. A-1 and A-2.
The horizontal strain or stress of the corrugated steel jacket represents the degree of confinement.
During the ascending stage of loading, it exhibits a slight tensile increase. In the descending stage, the
horizontal strain generally decreases rapidly at both the crest and trough of the corrugation, or even
become compressive. Only the middle of corrugation remains tensile. This behavior may be attributed
to the Poisson effect, where increasing vertical compressive strain suppresses horizontal tensile strain.
For the specimen CS-D-2-1.0 with complete damage, the horizontal strain at one of the measured
points has approached the yield strain, and horizontal stress can reach near 200N/mm2 at the ultimate
load. It indicates that the initially damaged concrete has a more significant lateral expansion, which is
prevented by the corrugated steel sheet. However, the horizontal strain and stress become minor with
less damage, suggesting that the cracking and softening of the damaged concrete can increase the
confinement effect in the round strengthened RC column. The corrugated steel sheet should have
exhibited good confinement [35], whereas, it was not taken full advantage due to the reduced
confinement development in a square section[79].
For vertical strain and stress, similar behavior can be observed in concrete-filled corrugated steel
tubes with circular cross-sections [35]. During compression of the corrugated steel together with the
column, the outer-surface fibers are stretched at the peak and flat segments of the corrugation, where
tensile and compressive stresses cancel each other. Conversely, the trough is compressed more with
the superimposing of column compressive stress, resulting in greater compressive stress. This

19
superposed stress causes the Mises stress at the trough to increase significantly faster than at the crest
and flat regions of the corrugation (Fig. A-2). As shown in Fig. 13 (b), the average longitudinal stress
of all specimens in the corrugated steel was only -3.591 MPa by using weighted mean values[35],
indicating that the axial load directly borne by the corrugated steel plate can be negligible. This finding
is consistent with previous relevant research conclusions[36][38][39][57].
In general, the corrugated steel plates at different positions exhibit low stress levels, with most
horizontal stresses and vertical stresses not exceeding 100 N/mm², and the Mises stress not reaching
the yield strength value (Fig. 13(c)). The exception occurs when severe plastic strain develops in the
initial RC section with complete damage. Given this low stress level, the thickness of the corrugated
steel does not need to be excessively large; it only needs to satisfy the construction requirements for
local stability and connection reliability.

(a) horizontal stresses (b) vertical stresses

(c) Mises stresses

Fig. 13. Stress components and Mises stress at ultimate load.

20
5 Ultimate axial load bearing capacity
5.1 Ultimate state mechanics
To facilitate the calculation and design of the ultimate bearing capacity of reinforced concrete
sections after strengthening, the stress distribution across the section at the ultimate load-bearing state
is analyzed as shown in Fig. 14. The reinforced concrete sections after strengthening are no longer
ordinary but have become a composite section confined by the jacket, with its load-bearing mechanism
similar to that of square steel tube concrete columns [57]. In the regions close to the corners, the
confinement is strong, whereas, it becomes weaker near the centerlines on the sides. Therefore, when
the column is under compression, the concrete and grout in regions A1 and A3 (confined areas) are
subjected to triaxial compression. Conversely, in the areas A2 and A4 that is weakly confined or
unconfined, the concrete may even experience uniaxial compression. To accurately calculate the
ultimate bearing capacity of such sections, it is necessary to analyze each region separately and then
combine the results. In the calculations, the boundary between the strongly confined and weakly
confined zones is assumed to be a quarter-circle arc. Based on this assumption, the areas of each
partition can be computed as detailed.
hc
σc tg σh

σ2

σ1
bcc
S1 fr
b

σc A1 =b2-A2 A4
r
A3
A2=4S1,RC
σc tg σh
B=b+2tg
(a) geometry of section (b) mechanics of section

A1 A2 A3 A4 Corrugated steel sheet Angle steel

Fig. 14. Force analysis of cross section.

√2
𝑟= 𝑏 (15)
2

where the B, b, r, hc are width of enhanced RC section, width of grout layer, imaginary radius of
unconfined zone, and corrugation depth.
(1) Section geometry
21
 With the r, the single unconfined zone area and the unconfined RC section area can be easily
calculated by Eqs. (16) and (17).
(𝜋−2)𝑟 2
𝑆1 = (16)
4

√2 𝑡𝑔 𝑟2
𝑆1,𝑅𝐶 = 𝑟 2 arccos ( + ) − (√2𝑟 + 2𝑡𝑔 )√ − √2𝑡𝑔 𝑟 − 𝑡𝑔2 (17)
2 𝑟 2

As the partition shown in Fig. 16, the corresponding area can be calculated by using Eqs. (18) –
(21), where the edges between unconfined and confined area is assumed to be arc lines.
𝐴1 = 𝑏 2 − 𝐴2 (18)
𝐴2 = 4𝑆1,𝑅𝐶 (19)
𝐴3 = 𝐵2 − [𝐴1 + 𝐴2 + 𝐴4 + 4(𝐿𝑠 − 𝑡0 − ℎ𝑠 )2 ] (20)
𝐴4 = 𝑆1 − 𝑆1,𝑅𝐶 (21)
(2) Strength models
For the A1 region, the concrete core is confined in a damaged state and thus its compressive
strength should account for corresponding plastic damage. In this confined region, the confined
concrete compressive strength should be taken into analysis of load bearing capacity.
There are plenty of strength model for confined concrete, which is primary related to the confining
stress.
Table 4 Strength models for confined concrete

Type I: f cc /f co = a + k ( f r /f co )
b

Park R. et al. [59] square confined concrete f cc = f co + 2 f r

Hoang L. et al.[60] circular steel tube confined concrete f cc = f co + 3.16 f r

Richart E.[61] combined compressed concrete f cc = f co + 4.1f r

Eurocode 2 [62] concrete filled steel tube f cc =f co + 5 f r , f r  0.05 f co

Zhou X. et al. [63] square confined concrete f cc =f co + 5.1 f r

Candappa D. et al.[64]
concrete under triaxial compression f cc = f co +5.3f co
and Wang Y. et al.[36]

Saatcioglu M. et al.[65]confined concrete f cc = f co + 6.7 f r 0.83

Hoshikuma J. et al.[66] confined concrete f cc = f co + 7.6 f r

22
  21 
Fafitis A. et al.[67] confined concrete f cc = f co + 1.15 +  fr
 f co 

Type II: f cc = kf co

 f f 
Mander J. et al.[68] stirrups confined concrete f cc = f co  −1.254 + 2.254 1 + 7.94 r − 2 r 
 f co f co 
1.25 f c−0.21 (1+ 0.062 f r / f co )
f 
Attard M. [69] confined concrete f cc = f co  r + 1
 ft 

f cc = f co (1 + 13.07 f r /f co )
0.63
Setunge S. et al.[70] confined high-strength concrete

f cc = f co 1 + 2.1( f r /f co ) 
0.7
Cusson D. et al.[71] confined high-strength concrete
 
confined normal & high-strength
f cc = f co 1 + 2.4 ( f r /f co ) 
0.7
Legeron F. et al.[72]
concrete  
 f 
Bousalem B. et al.[73] rectangular confined concrete f cc = f co 1 + 0.8 r 
 f co 
 
  fr  
0.83

Girgin Z. et al. [74] confined ultra-high-strength concrete f cc = f co 1 + 4.08   

  co  
f
Note: the fcc, fco and fr are the confined concrete compressive strength, compressive strength of plain concrete and
confining stress, respectively.
The listed models provide two typical calculation modes for the concrete under triaxial
compression, including linear and non-linear equations. However, the models are proposed based on
different test conditions, which may lead to discreteness in predicting the strength of concrete confined
by square corrugated steel jacket.
Megahed K., et al. (2024) [75] have validated the strength model proposed by Lim. J. and
Ozbakkaloglu T. (2014) [76] based on 1041 previously tested CFST stub columns, including 337
rectangular short column specimens. As recommended in Eq. (22), the confined concrete strength, 𝑓𝑐𝑐′ ,
is determined by the confining stress (fr).
f c−0.06
 fr 
f cc = f c + 5.2 f c 0.91
  (22)
 f c 
where 𝑓𝑐′ is the compressive strength of concrete with damage.
As shown in Fig. 14, the fr can be obtained by the equilibrium equation between the resultant
forces of corrugated steel tube and confined concrete in A1 section:
23
 𝜂cs 𝑡cs 𝜎h
𝑓𝑟 = (23)
𝐵−(2−√2)𝑏

where 𝑡cs , 𝜂cs and 𝜀0 are respectively the concrete compressive strength of original RC column,
and compressive strain at the peak, and the compressive concrete strain under permeant load.

For the A2 region, the compressive strength of concrete with damage (𝑓𝑐′ ) should be employed,
and the influence of damage can be expressed as Eq. (24).
𝜀
𝑓𝑐′ = 𝑓c (1 − 𝑘𝑑 √ 0) (24)
𝜀 c

where the compressive strain in the concrete at the peak stress εc=0.7fc0.31 (EC2 [62]). For the
strengthened concrete column suffering damage, the 𝑓𝑐′ should be employed to calculate the ultimate
load bearing capacity. A strength loss factor (kd) can be then utilized to characterize the reduced
strength caused by the damage. As per the study on concrete-filled corrugated steel tube under cyclic
axial compression (Fang & Wang et. al. 2021&2023)[77][78], kd can be obtained between 0.04 to 0.10
at the ultimate state. In this analysis, 0.1 is used to conservatively estimate the strength considering
damage. To better describe the rule of the loss of strength in different damage stages, the initial damage
ratio 𝜀0 /𝜀c is proposed herein, to further match the 𝑓𝑐′ with the corresponding damage.
Similarly, for the A3 zone, the infilled grout is confined without damaged before loading.
Therefore, the confined compressive strength of grout (𝑓𝑐𝑐,𝑔 ) should be adopted to calculate the load

bearing capacity, which is given by Eq. (25). For the A4 zone under less confinement, the compressive
strength of grout (𝑓𝑐,𝑔 ) is directly employed to calculate the capacity.
−0.06
f c,g
 f 
f cc,g = f c,g + 5.2 f c,g0.91  r  (25)
f 
 c,g 
where 𝑓𝑐𝑐,𝑔 and 𝑓𝑐,𝑔 are confined reinforcement material compressive strength, and reinforcement

material compressive strength, respectively.

The corrugated steel jacketed square RC column can be regarded as a type of confined concrete
column [79]. As proven above, the corrugated steel sheet, especially near the centerline of cross section,
does not directly bear axial load. Therefore, only the corner angle steels, reinforcing layer grout, core
concrete, and reinforcement bars are considered to carry the load. The axial compressive load-bearing
capacity of the strengthened RC section (Nu) can be calculated by:

𝑁u = 𝑓cc′ 𝐴1 + 𝑓c′ 𝐴2 + 𝑓cc,g 𝐴3 + 𝑓c,g 𝐴4 + 𝑓L 𝐴L + 𝑓yb 𝐴b (26)

24
where the 𝑓L , 𝑓yb , 𝐴L , 𝐴b are yield strength of angle steel and original longitudinal rebars, areas of

angle steel and longitudinal rebars, respectively.

Due to the RC section encapsulated with corrugated sheets possessing characteristics of confined
concrete, the confined concrete strength model is applicable to the RC column rehabilitated with
corrugated jacketing. As compared in Fig. 15, substituting various confinement concrete strength
models into Eq. (26) can accurately predict the ultimate bearing capacity, consistent with expectations.

3600 3600
Wang Y. et al.[36] Richart E.[61]
Calculated Nu / kN

Calculated Nu / kN
3400 3400

3200 3200

3000 3000

R²= 0.6591 R²= 0.7263

2800 2800
2800 3000 3200 3400 3600 2800 3000 3200 3400 3600
Tested Nu / kN Tested Nu / kN

(a) concrete-filled corrugated steel tube model (b) hydraulic pressure confined concrete model

3600 3600
Zhou X. et al. [63] Mander J. et al.[68]
Calculated Nu / kN

Calculated Nu / kN

3400 3400

3200 3200

3000 3000

R²= 0.6708 R²= 0.7263

2800 2800
2800 3000 3200 3400 3600 2800 3000 3200 3400 3600
Tested Nu / kN Tested Nu / kN

(c) square CFST strength model (d) spiral stirrups confined concrete model
Fig. 15. Different strength models for load bearing capacity, Nu.

As validated in Fig. 16, considering the contributions of each component to bearing capacity, the
initial damage in the concrete core, and the enhancing effect of confinement on the concrete strength,
the calculated bearing capacity using proposed Eqs. (22)-(26) closely matches the test piece actual
measurements, with an average error of 1.86%. It provides an accurate calculation method for
predicting the ultimate bearing capacity of the reinforced section.
25
 Proposed model Test 3547.40 3490.94 3543.4
3500 3464.93 3458.48 3412.9
3283.70 3365.8 3209.93
2971.89 2957.4 3082.83 3062.91 3125.6 3314
3361.3
3000 3101.1
2850.9

2500
Nu / kN

2000
1500
1000
500
0

Fig. 16. Validation of proposed model for ultimate capacity.

6 Conclusions
In this study, the axial behavior of damaged RC short columns strengthened by using corrugated
steel jackets is studied experimentally. Ten columns were tested to investigate the influence of the
connection methods for corrugated sheets, corrugated steel thickness, and damage levels on load-
displacement curves, as well as stress and strain development patterns. By comparing different strength
model of confined concrete, a calculation method for the enhanced RC section is developed
considering axial compression ratio and transverse confinement. The following conclusions can be
drawn:
(1) From the experimental results of strengthening square reinforced concrete columns with
corrugated steel sleeves, it is evident that the improvement effect is significant. Adding corrugated
steel sleeves to damaged reinforced concrete columns can increase the ultimate bearing capacity of the

original RC short columns from 2117.7 kN to 2850.9–3543.4 kN, with an increase of 34.6%–67.3%.

(2) Due to the insufficient confinement effect in square sleeves, the thickness of the corrugated
steel sleeves has little noticeable impact on the load-displacement curves of the specimens.
Furthermore, the significant improvement in ultimate bearing capacity and ductility after strengthening
far exceeds the original reinforced concrete sections. This suggests that, when strengthening square
columns, there may be no need to use corrugated steel sleeves with thicker walls, as long as the stability
in construction is ensured.
(3) Under different connection types, the differences in ultimate bearing capacity and ductility are
minimal. Therefore, in practical engineering applications, bolted connections can achieve results
comparable to corner-welded connections, provided that rational connection design is achieved.
26
 (4) More severe damage to the reinforced section may lead to better deformation capacity, as the
loss of concrete strength results in an increased confinement factor. Observations reveal that the
performance enhancement of RC sections strengthened at different initial damage rates varies in the
load-displacement curves. For specimens with an initial axial compression ratio ranging from 0.4 to
1.0, the shortening displacement at the peak load increases from 3 mm to 5 mm. However, the damage
causes the concrete to soften, resulting in a decrease in the load-bearing capacity of the strengthened
specimens as the initial compression ratio increases.
(5) The lateral stress in the corrugated steel sheet determines the magnitude of the confinement
stress in the concrete. While the corrugated steel sheet exhibits good confinement properties, its full
potential is not utilized in square sections due to reduced confinement development. Only when the
concrete core is severely damaged does the lateral strain and stress increase significantly. For the
specimen CS-D-2-1.0 with complete damage, the lateral strain at one of the measurement points

approaches the yield strain, and the lateral stress reaches nearly 200 N/mm² at ultimate load. This

suggests that the cracking and softening of damaged concrete can enhance the confinement effect in
corrugated steel-strengthened RC columns. The longitudinal stress in the corrugated steel sheet
exhibits characteristics of bending effects, and the average longitudinal stress throughout the cycle
remains at a relatively low level, indicating that the corrugated steel sheet does not directly bear
significant loads.
(6) The strength index (SI) and ductility index (DI) exhibit a strong dependence on two key
parameters: the confinement factor (ξ) and the initial compressive stress ratio (σ0/fc). Increased ξ
enhances both SI and DI, reflecting enhanced confinement effects. In contrast, the σ0/fc influences SI
and DI differently. An increase in σ0/fc reduces SI due to the development of more cracks in the concrete,
while it simultaneously enhances DI due to the softening behavior of the concrete.
(7) The confined concrete strength model is applicable to RC columns strengthened with
corrugated steel jackets. It can be used to accurately predict the ultimate bearing capacity, with only
1.86% deviation.

27
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Appendix

Crest of corrugation Middle of corrugation Trough of corrugation

Load-strain curves of CS-A-2-20-0.4

Load-strain curves of CS-B-2-20-0.4

Load-strain curves of CS-C-2-20-0.4

Load-strain curves of CS-D-1.6-20-0.4

33
 Load-strain curves of CS-D-2.7-20-0.4

Load-strain curves of Load-strain curves of CS-D-2-20-0.4

Load-strain curves of CS-D-2-20-0.6-a

Load-strain curves of CS-D-2-20-0.6-b

Load-strain curves of CS-D-2-20-1

Fig. A-1. Strain components development in corrugated steel.

34
Longitudinal stress Hoop stress Mises stress

Load-stress curves of CS-A-2-20-0.4

Load-stress curves of CS-B-2-20-0.4

Load-stress curves of CS-C-2-20-0.4

Load-stress curves of CS-D-1.6-20-0.4

35
 Load-stress curves of CS-D-2.7-20-0.4

Load-stress curves of CS-D-2-20-0.4

Load-stress curves of CS-D-2-20-0.6-a

Load-stress curves of CS-D-2-20-0.6-b

Load-stress curves of CS-D-2-20-1

Fig. A-2. Strain components development in corrugated steel jacket.

36