Engineering Structures 27 (2005) 769–780 www.elsevier.com/locate/engstruct Seismic behavior of a full-scale RC frame repaired using CFRP laminates A. Balsamo a , A. Colombo b , G. Manfredi c , P. Negro d , A. Prota c,∗ a University of Naples Federico II, School of Architecture, Naples, Italy b Department of Mechanical and Structural Engineering, University of Trento, Trento, Italy c Department of Structural Analysis and Design, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy d ELSA Laboratory, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy Received 27 October 2004; received in revised form 3 January 2005; accepted 3 January 2005 Available online 24 February 2005 Abstract The opportunities provided by the use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composites for the seismic repair of reinforced concrete (RC) structures were assessed on a full-scale dual system subjected to pseudodynamic tests in the ELSA laboratory. The aim of the CFRP repair was to recover the structural properties that the frame had before the seismic actions by providing both columns and joints with more deformation capacity. The repair was characterized by a selection of different fiber textures depending on the main mechanism controlling each component. The driving principles in the design of the CFRP repair and the outcomes of the experimental tests are presented in the paper. Comparisons between original and repaired structures are discussed in terms of global and local performance. In addition to the validation of the proposed technique, the experimental results will represent a reference database for the development of design criteria for the seismic repair of RC frames using composite materials. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Joint; Frame; FRP; Full-scale; Pseudodynamic; Seismic repair and strengthening 1. Introduction A full-scale RC dual-system (Fig. 1) was subjected to unidirectional pseudodynamic tests in the ELSA laboratory of the Join Research Center (JRC) in Ispra (Italy). The structure consisted of two frames, one designed according to Eurocode 8 (i.e., EC8 frame) and the other according to the deformation-based design method proposed by Fardis and Panagiotakos [1] (i.e., DbD frame). Two tests were performed on the original structure: the first under the design earthquake and the second under the design earthquake times 1.5 [2]. After the damage, the structure was repaired using Carbon FRP (CFRP) laminates and then subjected to a new series of two tests with the same input accelerograms selected for the original. The laboratory activity was ∗ Corresponding address: Department of Structural Analysis and Design, University of Naples Federico II, via Claudio 21, 80125, Naples, Italy. Tel.: +39 081 7683534; fax: +39 081 7683491. E-mail address: aprota@unina.it (A. Prota). 0141-0296/$ - see front matter © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2005.01.002 Fig. 1. Floor plan view of the structure (dimensions in cm). concluded by a cyclic test up to the onset of structural failure to determine the ultimate capacity of the system. The experimental program aimed at two main objectives: to compare the response of frames designed according to different approaches and to assess the opportunity of using composite materials as an effective technique for the seismic repair of RC frames. The discussion of the former is out of the scope of this paper; relevant details can be found