Effect of Confining Reinforcement and Axial Load Level on Curvature Ductility and Effective Stiffness of Reinforced Concrete Columns

Abstract

The correct estimate of curvature ductility of reinforced concrete members has always been an attractive subject of study as it engenders a reliable estimate of the capacity of buildings under seismic loads. In this study, the effect of the material model, axial load and transverse reinforcement ratio on the behavior of reinforced concrete columns were analytical investigated. Squared cross-section column models have been designed. The behaviors of the columns were evaluated from the moment-curvature relation by taking the nonlinear behavior of the materials into account. The moment-curvature relationships for different axial load levels and transverse reinforcement ratios of the reinforced concrete column cross-sections were obtained considering the Mander confined model. The examined effects of the parameters on the column behavior were evaluated in terms of the strength of the cross-section, ductility and effective stiffness. In the designed column cross-sections, different parameters effecting the moment-curvature relationships, ductility and effective stiffness were calculated and compared. It is observed that the variation of the axial load and transverse reinforcement ratio have an important effect on the moment-curvature behavior, ductility and effective stiffness of the reinforced concrete columns. Although the effective stiffness of the cracked section is not constant, it varies depends on parameters such as the confining reinforcement and axial force acting on the section. © 2020, TUBITAK. All rights reserved.