Nonlinear Cyclic Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Columns Using Fiber Section Approach

This study investigates nonlinear modeling and verification of a reinforced concrete element using the fiber section method. At first, the theory related to the fiber section approach and hysteresis models used for cyclic analysis is given. Then, a reinforced concrete column tested previously in the literature is modeled and simulation results are compared with the test results. An acceptable approximation is made utilizing only a few input parameters: Uniaxial stress-strain curves of the materials, location and length of the plastic hinge, and geometry of the model. Moreover, the axial force-moments interaction curve from Eurocode is compared with the one obtained from the nonlinear model. It is shown that by conducting nonlinear analysis a larger capacity of the element is considered which results in a more realistic and economic design.