Australian standard for slender reinforced concrete column design

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to study the behavior and structural capacity of pin-ended slender columns subjected to uniaxial bending and axial loading using the Australian Standard AS3600-2001. The P-Delta analysis method would also be considered. The calculated failure loads would then be compared with experimental values obtained from 26 test columns by Chuang and Kong, 54 columns from appendix 2 of Cranston and 73 columns from past FYP students. Calculated values from other major code of practices would also be used for this study. Chapter 1 would be an introduction to slender columns and its importance in modern day construction followed by the objective and scope of this project. Chapter 2 follows up with a brief historical overview of the study of slender columns by various researchers, most notably Euler who came up with the first formula for the critical buckling load for an elastic struct. Chapters 3 and 4 continues with the design procedure of slender columns using AS3600-2001 and P-Delta analysis and finally Chapter 5 and 6 concludes with the results, discussions and recommendations. Four main variables will be used to evaluate the data obtained from the various codes of practices, the P-Delta analysis method and experimental values. The 4 variables are slenderness ratio, concrete strength, steel ratio and eccentricity ratio. Generally for greater slenderness ratio, increasing eccentricity ratio, decreasing concrete strength and decreasing steel ratio the failure load obtained from various analysis methods tend to decrease. This report shows that AS3600 is adequate for the design of slender columns with normal and high strength concrete for short term loadings