Influence of Reinforcement on RC Short Column Lateral Resistance

Abstract

The effect of varying amounts of transverse and longitudinal reinforcement on behavior of short reinforced concrete columns was studied. The short columns were cyclically deflected along their diagonals to produce bilateral deformations more representative of severe earthquake loadings. Bond degradation was found to be a serious problem in some columns. The rates of degradation of the hysteretic load‐deflection loops were strongly influenced by the spacing of the transverse reinforcement. The importance of transverse reinforcement to shear resistance in the form of inclined crack width control was confirmed. The ACI 318‐77 shear capacity equations were found to be conservative. Trends indicated by the equations were not observed in the column tests.