Using Strain-Hardening Cement-based Composites (SHCC) reinforced with steel meshes for strengthening concrete bearing strength

In order to improve the bearing strength of concrete pedestals exposed to concentric and eccentric local compressive pressure, this study investigates the application of several external confinement techniques. Concrete blocks were tested under both concentric and eccentric local pressure after being cast and externally supplemented with SHCC jacketing. The main variable was the use of steel meshes (SMs) to reinforce SHCC. These SMs vary in number (1, 2, and 3) and height-to-block height ratios (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1). Furthermore, the effects of the following were investigated: the use of conventional stirrups reinforcement inside SHCC jacketing and the confinement sides of the block; the number of grooves on the substrate concrete-SHCC interface, the load eccentricity ratio (0, 0.25, and 0.39), and the steel fiber content (0, 0.5, and 1%). The bearing strength rose 17.3% when the control block was reinforced with 25 mm-SHCC jacketing. In comparison to the un-strengthened sample, the bearing strength increased by 50%, when three layers of steel meshes were used. When the block sample was reinforced from one side by the SHCC layer, the bearing strength did not increase.