Application of fiber element in the assessment of the cyclic loading behavior of RC columns

Abstract

This paper studies the reliability of an analytical tool for predicting the lateral load-deformation response of RC columns while subjected to lateral cyclic displacements and axial load. The analytical tool in this study is based on a fiber element model implemented into the program DRAIN-2DX (fiber element). The response of RC column under cyclic displacement is defined by the behavior of concrete, and reinforcing steel under general reversed-cyclic loading. A tri-linear stress-strain relationship for the cyclic behavior of steel is proposed and the improvement in the analytical results is studied. This study only considers the behavior of columns with flexural dominant mode of failure. It is concluded that with the implementation of appropriate constitutive material models, the described analytical tools can predict the response of the columns with reasonable accuracy when compared to experimental data.