My research area is in the lateral pre-tensioning confinement on the slender HSC columns. My confining material is restricted to low-cost steel straps. What about the confining effects using other types of materials such as FRP, CFRP or spiral steel?
Dear Ma
If you mean pre-tensioning a concrete member with FRP bars in order to increase confinement, I guess the first disadvantage that comes to mind is its costs. Pre-tensioning itself is a rather costly procedure and if you add using FRP bars to it, it will become even more expensive. Secondly, FRP needs epoxy glues to bond with concrete material and maybe presence of glue interrupts the process of pre-tensioning. But if you're talking about a comparison between different methods of increasing confinement and ductility of a concrete members, FRP sure has the best performance seen through tests.
Dear Ma:
I will to recommend the Pro. Sumei Zhang about Ur answer, Su-mei Zhang is a distinguished Chinese professor in university of Harbin technology in the field of confining steel tuber HSC columns，she and her cooperation have also researched in area of FRP or CFRP columns for many years. Maybe U can found Ur answer in her research paper .
Regards
Zheng-bo Pi
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