Design Aids for Reinforced Concrete Columns

Abstract

A general computer model to investigate the ultimate strength behavior of regularly and irregularly shaped reinforced concrete columns subjected to axial load and biaxial bendings based on the Chinese Code GBJ 10‐89 and ACI 318‐83 is presented. The model combines biaxial bending, biaxial bending and tension, and biaxial bending and compression. It is also applicable to reinforced concrete columns loaded in one direction. With the presented design procedure, the position of the neutral axis and the area of the reinforcement or the ultimate strength capability can be obtained using the classical Newton‐Raphson method. The design tool is both clear in physical conception and easily programmed. The accuracy of the method is established by comparison with experimental results for reinforced concrete members subjected to combined biaxial bending and axial load. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the presented method.