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The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of confinement by using Reactive Powder Concrete(RPC)and wire mesh, together, to reinforce the compression member. The plain concrete specimen is used as the compression member. And three different reinforcing methods are used:1) one layer of wire mesh and 5mm thick of RPC, 2) two layers of wire mesh and 10mm thick of RPC, 3) three layers of wire mesh and 15mm thick of RPC. The RPC and wire mesh is placed at the outer ring of the plain concrete specimen to provide confinement to the specimen. The result of our study shows the compression strengths of the reinforced specimens increase 35﹪, 47﹪and 86﹪respectively, for each reinforcing method, when compared to the strength of the un-reinforced specimen. In addition to the increase in compression strength, the reinforced specimens also show a tremendous increase in ductility. For example, the length of the specimen decreases 20mm in compression test before failure occurred, if it is reinforced with three layers of wire mesh and 15mm thick of RPC.
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