Efect of transverse opening on the strength of reinforced concrete column

Abstract

Transverse openings may have been provided in reinforced concrete columns for the passage of services like plumbing pipes and electric conduits. These openings infuence the behavior and strength of RC columns. Thus, it is important to study the efects of transverse opening on its behavior. This study focused on the strength of RC column with transverse opening by considering diferent opening ratios, the position of opening (at 0.25H, 0.5H, and 0.75H from the top end), concrete strength, loading eccentricity, and direction of loading eccentricity (when eccentricity parallel and normal to the longitudinal axis of transverse opening) as study parameters to access their efect on the ultimate strength, load versus vertical displacement curve and damage mode of column model. Fifty-four model specimens were selected, which are modeled with the concrete damaged plasticity model in Abaqus 6.14. The FE model was validated against a previously conducted experimental inves tigation, which showed a good agreement with the experimental result. The study confrmed the signifcant efect of study parameters on the ultimate strength of the RC column. Further, a sensitivity analysis was performed to see how much the independent variables afect the ultimate strength of the column.