Existing reinforced concrete (RC) structures often require retrofitting due to deterioration of infrastructure, rising service loads, and the need to meet modern structural design standards. Reinforced concrete (RC) jacketing and fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) jacketing are two popular strengthening procedures for enhancing the performance of subpar RC columns. The structural behavior of these methods has been the subject of several research, but their cost-effectiveness and aesthetic implications both crucial factors in rehabilitation projects have received relatively little attention. The cost and aesthetic performance of RC and FRP jacketing systems are compared in this study. Using a Bill of Quantities (BOQ) cost analysis, the cost of identified retrofitting options was estimated by analyzing direct costs associated with labor, materials and equipment for each retrofitting technique. The analysis showed that the average total cost of RC jacketing would be approximately ₹23,998/column, whereas the average total cost of FRP jacketing would be approximately ₹36,964/column, indicating that RC jacketing is more cost effective than FRP jacketing, as RC jacketing is done using conventional materials. The aesthetic assessment was undertaken using several criteria, including column proportion change, surface finish quality, architectural compatibility, reduction of spaces, and finishing specifications. The aesthetic performance results indicate that FRP jacketing has superior aesthetic performance than RC jacketing due to the preservation of the original geometry of the structural member and the minimal increase of the column dimensions. Therefore, when selecting an appropriate retrofit option, both economic implications, and architectural requirements must be considered.
Varak et al. (Thu,) studied this question.