Response of cross-and tee-shaped concrete column sections to combined flexure and axial loading: technical paper

Abstract

Most reinforced concrete columns are square or rectangular in shape. For such, comprehensive design charts and software are available to enable design for combined compression and uniaxial bending. The columns designed to support loads such as those in multistorey apartment buildings are usually much wider than the thickness of masonry walls that are invariably part of the building construction system. However, it may be architecturally desirable to neatly blend the columns with the walls. This requires the columns to have the same thickness as the walls and these columns may then have to be T or + shaped. As an aid to the design of such columns, this article presents a comparative study of the predicted response to combined compression and uniaxial bending for the + and T shaped sections having the same cross section area and reinforcement content as an equivalent square section. It is shown that the + and T sections can effectively replace the square section.