Analysis of Prismatic and Linearly Tapered Reinforced Concrete Columns

Abstract

A rational analysis describing the ultimate strength and behavior of reinforced concrete columns of linearly tapering cross section under axial load and end moments is presented. The conjugate beam method is used to calculate the second‐order effects (i.e., the additional moment caused by the applied axial load). An interactive computer program for use with microcomputers is presented. The program uses iterative procedures for calculating moment‐thrust‐curvature relationships along the member, including the secondorder effects. It determines the failure load as well as the failure mode of a slender, linearly tapered, reinforced concrete column. The results obtained from the computer model are compared with available experimental results.