STRENGTH ANALYSIS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE COLUMNS OF

CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTION

R. Vadlūga
Dept of Reinforced Concrete and Masonry Structures, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University,
Saulėtekio al. 11, LT-2040 Vilnius. E-mail: gelz@st.vtu.lt
Received accepted

Abstract. Assessment of carrying capacity of reinforced concrete columns of circular cross-section is considered in
this article. Strength analysis of reinforced concrete columns of circular cross-section is specific in comparison with
these of rectangular cross-section. The proposed method of analysis is analogous to that of the ring cross-section
columns. Carrying capacity of the circular cross-section columns obtained from calculation by proposed method
agrees well with experimental results.

Keywords. Circular cross-section, plain concrete and reinforced concrete columns, strength, carrying capacity,
longitudinal reinforcement

1. Introduction was valid earlier [8]. But analysis using this method is
quite complicated and seldom applied.
Reinforced concrete columns of circular cross-section are
widely used in the buildings of framed structure. Analysis 3. Simplification of analysis
of such columns is more complicated than that of In practical analysis the said curved diagrams of concrete
rectangular members. Circular shape of the cross-section and reinforcement strength are superseded by arbitrary
and uniform distribution of reinforcement along the rectangular ones (Fig. 1). Compression zone in the cross-
perimeter of the cross-section create some peculiarities in section is defined by a sector part of the cross-section. In
assessment of state of stresses and deformations. In the this case determination of location of the neutral axis, i.e.
engineering literature the problem of analysis of such the value of ξ (see Fig. 1), is determined in a quite
members is not enough investigated [1-5]. In this article complicated way. The problem is solved by the iteration
quite simple engineering method for analysis of method. The solution is impeded by the fact that the
reinforced concrete columns of circular cross-section relative value of ξ s defining the compressive part of
based on the same principles as in analysis of the ring reinforcement in the cross-section does not coincide with
cross-section members is presented. the value of ξ . Relationship between these two values is
expressed by formula:
2. Assumptions for the method of analysis
In the carrying capacity analysis of reinforced concrete ⎛r ⎞
structures by the limit state (partial coefficient) method it arccos ⎜ 2 cos πξ ⎟
is assumed that the member is in the state of failure and ξs = ⎝ rs ⎠ = kξ (1)
the influence of the concrete in tension is ignored. π
Diagram of stress distribution in the compression zone is
curved but for the sake of simplification of analysis the N
actual curved diagram is superseded by arbitrary f cd
rectangular one. Such principal is utilized and in the f sc , d
Eurocode 2 [6]. e0 x
The longitudinal reinforcement in the members of πξ s
πξ
circular cross-section usually is uniformly distributed in
the perimeter of the cross-section. In the failure stage of
rs
such members the diagrams of stresses of reinforcement
in the tensile and compressive zones are curved, i.e.
utilization of reinforcement strength depends on its
location in the cross-section. Carrying capacity of the f yd
member can be evaluated using the general method for
strength analysis presented in Lithuanian technical Fig. 1. Diagram for analysis of eccentrically compressed
regulation for construction [7] according to the code that members of circular cross-section
Values of coefficient k describing relationship between brackets of the formula (3) may be changed by the
factors ξ s and ξ depend on the ratio r2 / rs and are simpler one:
presented in the table.
sin πξ cos πξ
ξ− ≈ 1,8ξ − 0, 4 . (4)
Table 1. Values of coefficient k describing relationship π
between factors ξ s and ξ
k k at r2 / rs Then condition of equilibrium (2) can be rewritten as
follows:
ξ 1,05 1,1 1,15 1,2 1,25

f cd (1,8ξ − 0, 4 ) + f sc , d Asc ξ s − f yd Ast (1 − ξ s ) − N = 0 , (5)

0,1 0,1679 - - - -
0,15 0,7660 0,6360 - - -
0,2 0,8846 0,7538 0,5974 0,3854 -
0,25 0,9346 0,8653 0,7910 0,7100 0,6197 or
0,3 0,9609 0,9207 0,8791 0,8360 0,7910
0,35 0,9767 0,9530 0,9290 0,9046 0,8798 f cd (1,8ξ − 0, 4 ) + f sc , d Asc k ξ − f yd Ast (1 − k ξ ) − N = 0 . (5a)
0,4 0,9870 0,9740 0,9609 0,9477 0,9344
0,45 0,9944 0,9889 0,9832 0,97775 0,9719
0,5 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0 Solution of this equation:
0,55 1,0046 1,0092 1,0138 1,0184 1,0230
0,6 1,0086 1,0173 1,0261 1,0349 1,0437 0, 4 f cd A + f yd As + N
ξ= , (6)
0,65
0,7
1,0126
1,0167
1,0253
1,0340
1,0382
1,0518
1,0514
1,0703
1,0647
1,0896 ( )
1,8 f cd A + k f sc , d + f yd As
0,75 1,0218 1,0449 1,0697 1,0967 1,1268
0,8 1,0288 1,0615 1,1006 1,1536 - here A = πr22 - cross-sectional area of the member, As -
0,85 1,0413 1,017 - - -
the total cross-sectional area of longitudinal
0,9 1,0925 - - - -
reinforcement.
Data in the table demonstrate that the difference between
Load carrying capacity of circular columns is determined
ξ s ir ξ increase with the ratio of r2 / rs . When the value
from condition of equilibrium that the sum of the
of relative compression zone is within the limits of
moments due to external and internal forces about the
ξ = 0,3 ÷ 0, 7 value of the coefficient k does not differ
axis through the center of cross-section of the member
from unity more than 10%.
equals to zero:
In the case of concrete core members with external
reinforcement in the form of a thin steel pipe [9] the
sin πξ s
values of ξ s and ξ coincide. ( Ne0 )u =
2
3
( ) ( )
f cd r23 sin 3 πξ + f yd + f sc , d As rs
π
.(7)
The value of ξ defining the compressive part of the
cross-section is determined from the condition of 4. Approbation of the method
equilibrium that the sum of all (internal and external)
forces is equal to zero:
Analysis revealed that the design value of load carrying
f cd Ac + f sc , d Asc − f yd Ast − N = 0 . (2) capacity of eccentrically compressed reinforced concrete
members of circular cross-section determined by the
Here f cd - concrete design compressive strength, f sc , d proposed method is very close to that determined using
other methods presented in the technical literature [1-4].
and f yd - design strengths of reinforcement in
The method was verified by comparison of design load
compression and tension correspondingly, Ac - zone of
carrying capacity of eccentrically compressed concrete
cross-sectional area in compression of the member, Asc
members of circular cross-section determined by the
and Ast - cross-sectional areas of longitudinal proposed method with experimental data [5]. It was
reinforcement in compression and tension revealed that the proposed method is more suitable when
correspondingly.
Area of zone in compression of cross-section of the the relative eccentricity e0/r is less than 0,3. The
member is determined as the area of a segment: comparison showed that the average ratio between design
load carrying capacities of eccentrically compressed
sin πξ cos πξ ⎞
( 2πξ − sin 2πξ ) = πr22 ⎛⎜ ξ −
r22 reinforced concrete members of cylindrical cross-section
Ac = ⎟. (3)
2 ⎝ π ⎠ determined by the proposed method and experimental
ones m = 1, 0686 , and standard deviation s = 0, 0709 .
In this formula πr22 means the total cross-sectional area Confidence interval of the mean ratio with the guarantee
A of the member. Analysis showed that for values of ξ of 99% according to the Student t-criterion is
within the interval of ξ = 0,3 ÷ 0, 7 expression in the 0,9918 − 1,1454 .
5. Analogy of methods of analysis for circular and
ring cross-section members
In load carrying capacity analysis of ring cross-section
reinforced concrete member the compression zone part is
determined not by a segment of the ring but by part of
the sector. It gives non-significant error for the sake of
safety [10]. This assumption is not acceptable for load
carrying capacity evaluation of members with circular
cross-section. But the neutral axis of ring cross-section
members does not cut the internal circle of the ring, i.e.
when the depth of compression zone is less than the
thickness of the ring (see Fig. 2) and then load carrying
capacity of the ring cross-section members can be
determined as for these of circular cross-section.
πξ s πξ
rs
rs
r1 r2
Fig. 2. Ring cross-section of reinforced concrete members
5. Conclusions
Prepared relatively simple method for load carrying
capacity analysis of reinforced concrete columns of
circular cross-section is the result of performed
investigation. Analogy of proposed method with the
method for strength analysis of such members with the
circular cross-section is demonstrated. Method can be
used for verifications and for direct (design) calculations
of reinforced concrete columns of circular cross-section.
References
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