Seismic Performance Analysis of Concrete Columns Reinforced with Prestressed Wire Ropes Embedded in Polyurethane Cement Composites

In order to improve the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) columns, a reinforcement technology using prestressed steel wire ropes embedded in polyurethane cement composite material is proposed. Four concrete columns reinforced with different materials were subjected to a combination of axial compression and horizontally repeated loading tests (one of which was not reinforced, while the remaining three were reinforced with prestressed steel wire rope, polyurethane cement composite material, and prestressed steel wire ropes embedded in polyurethane cement composite material). The experimental results show that the ductility and energy dissipation capacity of reinforced concrete columns after reinforcement are significantly improved. After strengthening with prestressed steel wire ropes embedded in polyurethane cement composite material, the ultimate horizontal displacement and energy dissipation capacity of reinforced concrete columns were significantly improved, which were 69% and 3.2 times higher than those of unreinforced columns, respectively.