Design of normal- and high-strength concrete columns

Abstract

Research by Khalil to verify and develop Beal's graphical method of buckling analysis confirms that Beal's method is accurate and effective, giving results which agree well with experimental data. The method provides a powerful analytical tool, allowing fast determination of the column capacity for a wide range of slenderness and loading conditions. It is used here to investigate the behaviour of normal- and high-strength concrete columns under both axial and eccentric loads and with a variety of slenderness ratios and reinforcement proportions. The results of this accurate analysis are used as a benchmark for the assessment of code of practice design rules. Existing BS 8110 design rules are found to give poor agreement with both the theoretical analysis and experimental results. New design rules which give more consistent and accurate results are proposed.