Performance Evaluation of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Columns Strengthened with FRCM under Cyclic Loading and Subsequent Corrosion Rate

Performance Evaluation of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Columns Strengthened with FRCM under Cyclic Loading and Subsequent Corrosion Rate | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Performance Evaluation of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Columns Strengthened with FRCM under Cyclic Loading and Subsequent Corrosion Rate Benyamin Rezaei, Mohammad Reza Esfahani This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8817779/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study investigates the performance of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) columns strengthened with Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites. Seven column–foundation specimens were tested under cyclic lateral loading to evaluate their behavior. The main experimental variables included the corrosion process (before and after strengthening) and the adopted strengthening method. Some of the corroded specimens were re-exposed to a corrosive environment after strengthening to estimate the process of subsequent corrosion. The strengthening was carried out using a carbon-based FRCM (C-FRCM) system, both independently and in combination with embedded Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars (hybrid method). The experimental results were compared with the design provisions of ACI 549.4Rf code. The aims of this study are as follows, evaluate the performance and load carrying capacity of corroded columns, identify their failure mechanisms, assess ductility factor, energy dissipation capacity and examine the influence of strengthening on the rate of re-corrosion process. The results revealed that corrosion significantly reduced the load carrying capacity of the columns. Corrosion was found to be non-uniform along both longitudinal and transverse reinforcement bars. It led to brittle failure and a considerable decrease in energy absorption. Moreover, the FRCM and GFRP strengthening system exhibited a notable improvement in structural performance, particularly in the corroded specimens. Comparison between experimental results and ACI 549.4R code predictions indicated that the code provisions are conservative. Furthermore, the proposed strengthening method reduced the corrosion rate by approximately 16%. Physical sciences/Engineering Physical sciences/Materials science Strengthening Ductility Corrosion Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) GFRP bars RC column Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 26 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 25 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 23 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 20 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 04 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 24 Feb, 2026 Editor invited by journal 24 Feb, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 16 Feb, 2026 First submitted to journal 16 Feb, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8817779","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":600799488,"identity":"efa84fb6-ec20-4d1b-bff5-86aed438a936","order_by":0,"name":"Benyamin Rezaei","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Ferdowsi University of Mashhad","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Benyamin","middleName":"","lastName":"Rezaei","suffix":""},{"id":600799490,"identity":"80057c6d-b8ce-4f79-a991-e033c2e41319","order_by":1,"name":"Mohammad Reza Esfahani","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAxklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACxgfMQJKHH8rlIUILswFYi2QDqVoYDA4Q6yx+/sOMnwtq7sgY38hOYPhRwyBj3kBAi+SMZGbpGcee8ZjdyN3A2HOMgUeGkHUGN/gPSPOwHQZrYeBtYOCRIOQw+/OHmX/z/DvMYzwDaMtfYrQYMCSzSfO2HeYxkMjdwEyULRI3ktmsefsO80icebvhsMwxCcJa+PsPM9/m+XbYnr89d+PDNzU29gS1oIADQFtJ0jAKRsEoGAWjAAcAAEwUNfKTrhTDAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Ferdowsi University of Mashhad","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mohammad","middleName":"Reza","lastName":"Esfahani","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-07 19:53:29","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8817779/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8817779/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":104779626,"identity":"1ee80768-1222-4af1-9234-b5b6dca1d9fb","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-17 07:43:35","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2831432,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"PerformanceEvaluationofCorrodedReinforced....pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8817779/v1_covered_7d1cccd7-b8b6-4b77-a5e9-a10ad930bc27.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Performance Evaluation of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Columns Strengthened with FRCM under Cyclic Loading and Subsequent Corrosion Rate","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Strengthening, Ductility, Corrosion, Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM), GFRP bars, RC column","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8817779/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8817779/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study investigates the performance of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) columns strengthened with Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) composites. Seven column\u0026ndash;foundation specimens were tested under cyclic lateral loading to evaluate their behavior. The main experimental variables included the corrosion process (before and after strengthening) and the adopted strengthening method. Some of the corroded specimens were re-exposed to a corrosive environment after strengthening to estimate the process of subsequent corrosion. The strengthening was carried out using a carbon-based FRCM (C-FRCM) system, both independently and in combination with embedded Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars (hybrid method). The experimental results were compared with the design provisions of ACI 549.4Rf code. The aims of this study are as follows, evaluate the performance and load carrying capacity of corroded columns, identify their failure mechanisms, assess ductility factor, energy dissipation capacity and examine the influence of strengthening on the rate of re-corrosion process.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe results revealed that corrosion significantly reduced the load carrying capacity of the columns. Corrosion was found to be non-uniform along both longitudinal and transverse reinforcement bars. It led to brittle failure and a considerable decrease in energy absorption. Moreover, the FRCM and GFRP strengthening system exhibited a notable improvement in structural performance, particularly in the corroded specimens. Comparison between experimental results and ACI 549.4R code predictions indicated that the code provisions are conservative. 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