Assessment of Key Parameters Affecting Compressive Behavior of uPVC-Confined Concrete

Abstract

Experimental work was conducted to evaluate the strength capacity of uPVC filled-concrete (CFPT) stub columns under different environmental conditions. The effect of three curing conditions, open-air, water, and sealed, on the CFPT specimens was examined. The water absorption of CFPT was also determined to evaluate the confining device's performance in protecting concrete in humid environments. Test results show that the plastic tube effectively reduced the water absorption of the confined concrete by more than 80%. In order to assess the influence of key parameters on the performance of CFPT under the applied load, a database was established that covered 186 axial compression test results of CFPT specimens. A detailed discussion of the key parameters affecting the overall behavior of CFPT also presented.