THE EFFECTS OF CONFINEMENT AND STRAIN HARDENING ON THE

PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN OF SHORT CIRCULAR COLUMNS

Sema NOYAN ALACALI1 , Bilge DORAN2

Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering,

Yldz Technical Univ., Main Campus, 80750 Yldz/ISTANBUL/TURKEY,
Phone: (+90212) 259 70 70/2257.
e.mail:noyan@yildiz.edu.tr.

Ph.D. Lect.Dr. of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Yldz

Technical Univ.,Main Campus, 80750 Yldz/ISTANBUL/TURKEY,
Phone: (+90212) 259 70 70/2257.
e.mail:doran@yildiz.edu.tr.

THE EFFECTS OF CONFINEMENT AND STRAIN HARDENING ON THE

PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN OF SHORT CIRCULAR COLUMNS

ABSTRACT
In limit design of reinforced concrete structures, the design bending moment distribution is related to
the ductility at plastic hinges. The past research has shown that the ductility and energy dissipation
capacity of a reinforced concrete member can be improved significantly by confining the concrete by
circular spirals. The ultimate curvatures of reinforced concrete sections cannot be calculated
accurately by neglecting strain hardening (if strain hardening is formed) in steel. In such a case, the
reliability of the limit design and seismic design may be affected unfavourably. In this context, based
upon an appropriate steel behaviour model including strain hardening, an algorithm can be
developed for confined circular column sections.

KEYWORDS: Short Columns, Design, Circular Section, Strain Hardening

1.INTRODUCTION
The analysis and design of circular short columns subjected to flexural bending with axial
load have been examined in this paper. Confined circular short columns, with
compression and tension which have the effect of strain hardening or not, can be
analyzed in an accurate way. In the limit design, the curvature ductilities of reinforced
concrete cross-sections, and the rotation capacities of the plastic hinges can be
increased significantly by confining the sections. In other words, the capacities of
potential plastic hinge rotation which are functions of these curvatures are estimated
greater than the real values because of the negligence of the strain hardening effect [9].
Bearing all these facts in mind, idealized stress-strain behaviour models are proposed to
use in the design for unconfined and confined concrete, considering the effect of strain
hardening of the steel. Depending on the afore mentioned models, algorithms for the
analysis and design of reinforced concrete columns subjected to flexural bending with
axial load have been proposed. By using these algorithms, the confined and strain
hardening circular short columns which will reach the ultimate state by compression or
tension failure, with steel arrayed in a circle, can be analyzed and designed. Also a
numerical example related with the study is given.

2. BEHAVIOUR MODELS FOR CONCRETE AND STEEL

2.1. Behaviour Model for Concrete
On the basis of the existing experimental evidence, stress-strain behaviour models have
been proposed for concrete unconfined and confined by circular spirals [3,5,6,11,13,15].

c
Kfcd

B
Confined concrete

k3fcd

cco = co K

Unconfined concrete

0.8 Kfcd

0.5fcd
0.2Kfcd
0.2fcd
A

C
C
co cco cu

50u

ccu 20u 50uc 20uc

Figure 1. Idealized stress-strain behaviour model for concrete confined by circular

spirals
As indicated in Fig.1, characteristic compressive cylinder strength of the concrete
confined with circular spirals is given by [8]
fcck = fck + 2.05h fywk = Kfck ; K = fcck / fck = fccd / fcd
(1)

K can also be expressed as function of h ;

K = 1 + 2.05h ( fywk / fck ) for C< C50

(2a)

or
K = 1 + 1.5375 h ( fywk / fck ) for C C50

(2b)

where K is the confinement coefficient, fck is the characteristic compressive cylinder

strength of the unconfined concrete, fywk is the characteristic yield strength of the spiral
bar, fcd and fccd are the design compressive strength of the concrete unconfined and
confined, respectively.
The ratio of volume of spiral bar to volume of concrete core measured to center lines of
spirals is
h = 4 A sh /(Rh' sh )
(3)
where

Rh' = Rh Dh

(4)

Rh = 0.85R

(5)

A sh =

0.25Dh2

(6)

where A sh is the area of the spiral bar, R is the diameter of circular column section, Rh'
is the diameter of circle through centre of reinforcement , Dh is the the diameter of spiral,
sh is pitch of the spiral, Rh is the the diameter of circle through outside of reinforcement.
The characteristics of the suggested curve in Figure 1 are as follows [14]:
For region AB ( c cc 0 ) :

c = Kfcd (2 c / cc 0 ) ( c / cc 0 ) 2

(7a)

For region BC ( cc 0 < c 20uc):

c = fcd [K c ( c / cc 0 )]

For region AB' (c c 0 ):

c = k 3 fcd (2 c / c 0 ) ( c / c 0 ) 2

(7b)

(7c)

For region B'C' ( c 0 < c 20u):

c = k 3 fcd [1 ( c / c 0 )]

(7d)

The parameters of the stress-strain behaviour model (Figure 1) are defined below :
ccu = K(0.2 / c + c 0 )

(8)

c = tan c / fcd = (K 0.5) /( 50u + 50h c 0K )

(9)

= tan / fcd = 0.5 /( 50u c 0 )

where
50u = (3 + 0.29k 3 fcd ) /(145k 3 fcd 1000)

(11)

50h = 0.75 h (R h / s h )

(12)

(10)

The strain at the maximum stress co is approximately 0.002 or 0.0022 [3, 7], mc is the
material coefficient (safety factor) for concrete, k3 is the ratio of concrete maximum
strength to cylinder strength of the concrete, ccu is the concrete strain at the extreme
compression fiber of confined concrete, cu is the concrete strain at the extreme
compression fiber of unconfined cover concrete [1,2,13, 14].
For any given strain cm in the extreme compression fiber, and a given concrete stressstrain curve, the compressive stress block parameters k1c, k2c, k1, k2 can be determined
for unconfined and confined concrete, respectively [7].

2.2. Behaviour Model for Steel

Stress-strain behaviour models are shown for steel including the strain hardening effect
for analysis and design in figure 3 [9].
s
fsu

fyk
fsud

Ep

fyd

Es
0

yd

fyhd
yk

sh= shd

sud

su

Figure 2. Idealized stress-strain behaviour model for steel, including the effect of strain
hardening

It is assumed trilinear approximate, considering the upper yield strength and the increase
in strain due to strain hardening (Fig.2). The slope of the ascending linear region
described as plastic behaviour is,
E p = ( fsu fyk ) /( su sh )

(13)

where Ep= modulus of plasticity of steel, fsu=the failure strength for steel, fyk=the
characteristic yield strength for steel, su = the ultimate strain for steel, sh = the initial
value of strain hardening for steel.
The ultimate strain for steel is,
sud = ( fsud fyd ) / Ep + sh

(14)

For s > shd ( shd = sh) in figure 2, the design value of the upper yield strength is,
fyhd = fyd + ( s sh )Ep fsud

(15)

where fsud = fsu / 1.3

3. DESIGN FOR CIRCULAR SHORT COLUMNS

In multi-storey buildings, the end moments of the column can change in sign due to
different loadings. If the column is bent in double curvature, the same face of the column
can be subjected to compression or tension. When the end moments change sign,
compressive and tension effects reverse. For this reason, the columns are designed with
symmetrical reinforcement. In this part, design algorithms are suggested for eccentrically
short circular columns with steel arrayed in a circle [4,10].
In this paper, the equilibrium equations which define the mechanical behaviour of the
confined concrete for short circular columns are given as a function of the unknown
parameter Dv, for certain configuration of the longitudinal reinforcement (for example
n = 10 )as shown in figure 3. The algorithms suggested are also convenient for different
reinforced sections.
The input data of the problem are the design axial load capacity Nd, design bending
moment capacity Md and the geometric parameters, Dh , sh , n. The output data are
area of longitudinal reinforcement A sv and the ultimate curvature uc respectively.
3.1. Algorithm

Geometric parameters are shown in figure 3.

d

rs = 0.5R d'
z s = 2rs cos

rs

zs

Figure 3. Geometric parameter

Area of the circular spirals for n=10, can be calculated from the geometry shown in
figure 3. In this study, = 18 o and z s = 2(0.951)rs are computed.

The neutral axis for the cover concrete ( c u ) can be written as,
c u = cu c uc / ccu

(16)

where c uc shows that the depth of the neutral axis for the confined core concrete.

(b1) Cross-section

(b2) Strain
(b3) Stress distribution
distribution
and internal forces

Nu
Rh

cu

c
Dh
As

dc

Kfcd

ccu
s1
cu
s2

cu
zs

s3
s4

Dv

si

s1 c1
s2
c2

e'

s3
s4
si

R h'
R
c1 = 0.25Kfcdk 1c R h2 ( c sin c cos c )
c 2 = 0.25k 3 fcdk 1(R 2 R h2 )( c )

Figure 4. The analysis of short columns

The cross-section, strain and stress distribution and internal forces are shown in figure 4.
The angles and c for the unconfined and confied concrete respectively can be
expressed as [12];
For c uc 0.5R h ;
= cos 1 [(0.5R h c uc + c u ) /(0.5R h )]

(17a)

c = cos 1 [(0.5R h c uc ) /(0.5R h )]

(17b)

For c uc > 0.5R h ;

= cos 1 [(0.5R h c uc + c u ) /(0.5R h )]

(18a)

= cos 1 [(c uc 0.5R h ) /(0.5R h )]

(18b)

The stresses si can be expressed according to strain si , si and si have positive

signs if the longitudinal reinforcement is located in compression zone. There are three
states which may be represented by the following equations:
si < yd si = siE s

(19a)

yd < si < sh si = f yd

(19b)

sh < si < sud si = f yd + ( si sh )E p

(19c)

Otherwise, si and si have negative signs if the longitudinal reinforcement is located in

tension. Similarly, the stresses are as follows:
si < yd si = siE s

(20a)

yd < si < sh si = f yd

(20b)

sh < si < sud si = f yd + ( si + sh )E p

(20c)

In this study, compression zone in cover concrete is assumed to be sector of a circular

section. Therefore, the area of circular section can be written as,
A shell = 2

1
2
(R R h2 )( c )
4
2

(21)

Eq.21 simplifies to
A shell = 0.25(R 2 R h2 )( c )

(22)

The compression force in cover concrete is

Fshell = 0.25k 3 f cdk 1 (R 2 R h2 )( c )

(23)

The compression force in core concrete is then

Fcore = 0.25Kf cd k 1c R h2 ( c sin c cos c )

(24)

Thus the ultimate load of column may be written as

Nu = Fcore + Fshell + Fs

(25)

where Fs is the summation of the tension forces. The equilibrium equation obtained from
the sum of the internal forces is

Nu = [0.25 K fcd k1c Rh2 ( c sin c cos c )] + [0.25 k3 fcd k1 ( R2 Rh2 ) ( c - )]

n

+ si Asi

(26)

i =1

and the expression obtained from taking moments about the tension steel is
Mu = 0.25Kf cd k 1c R h2 ( c sin c cos c )[0.5(R h + z s ) k 2c c uc ] +
0.25k 3 fcdk1(R2 Rh2 )(c )[0.5(Rh + zs ) c uc + c u (k 2c u )] + si A si x i
n

i=1

(27)

where Mu is the moment of resistance

The moment equilibrium equation given by Eq.27 may be also written as
Nue' = Nu (e + 0.5z s ) = 0.25Kf cd k 1c R h2 ( c sin c cos c )[0.5(R h + z s ) k 2c c uc ]

+ 0.25k 3 f cd k 1 (R 2 R h2 )( c )[0.5(R h + z s ) c uc + c u (k 2 c u )]
n

+ si A si x i

(28)

i=1

where e' is the eccentricity of ultimate load Nu from the centroid of the tension steel.
Substituting the value of D 2v1 obtained from Eq.26 into Eq.28, Nu is calculated. Until
values of Nu and Nd are equal, the depth of the neutral axis is changed. If the values of
Nu and Nd are equal, D v1 is the diameter of the longitudinal steel. Thus, total area of
longitudinal steel in the section is
A sv = nA si

(29)

The ultimate curvature is given by

uc = ccu / c uc

(30)

3.2 Balanced Eccentricity

A balanced failure occurs when the tension steel reaches the yield strength and the
extreme fiber concrete compressive strain reaches the ultimate strain at the same time. In
the general case when e or the section is different from eb , the type of failure that ocurs
will depend on whether e is less than or greater than eb . If e < e b (or e / h < e b / h ),
compression failure occures. Tensile failure occures if e > eb (or e/h>eb/h). The subscript
b has been added to all parameters concerned with balanced failure. For balanced
failure, s = yd and s = fyd . Balanced eccentricity e b is derived from similiar triangles

of the strain diagram, force and moment equilibrium equations (Figure 4). For a balanced
failure, the neutral axis depths c b and c bc is given by the following relationships.
cb = [ cu / ( cu + yd ) ] 0.5 ( R + zs )

(31a)

cbc = [ ccu / ( ccu + yd ) ] 0.5 ( Rh + zs )

(31b)

Subsituting c uc = c bc , c u = c b and e = eb into Eq.28, the following equation is obtained:

Nb (eb + 0.5zs ) = 0.25Kfcdk1cRh2 ( bc sin bc cos bc )[0.5(Rh + z s ) k 2c c bc ]

+ 0.25k 3 fcdk 1(R 2 R h2 )(bc b )[0.5(R h + z s ) c bc + c b (k 2 c b )]

n

+ si A si x i

(32)

i=1

Solving for eb , balanced eccentricity becomes

e b = {0.25Kfcdk 1c R h2 (bc sin bc cos bc )[0.5(R h + z s ) k 2c c bc ]

+ 0.25k 3 fcdk 1(R 2 R h2 )(bc b )[0.5(R h + z s ) c bc + c b (k 2 c b )] + si A si x i

[0.25Kf

2
2
2
cdk1cRh ( bc sin bc cos bc ) + 0.25k 3 fcdk1(R Rh )( bc b )

+ si A si ] } 0.5z s
n

] [

i=1

]/
(33)

i=1

4.NUMERICAL EXAMPLE
) Calculate A sv and uc for circular column confined by circular spirals.

N d = 1200 kN , Md = 115 kNm, R = 400mm

n = 10 , fck = 25 MPa , fyk = 220 MPa , fywk = 220 MPa D h = 10 mm , s h = 100 mm ,
c = 1.5 , s = 1.15 ,
E s = 2 10 5 MPa , E p = 750 MPa , sud = 0.114 , sh = 0.02 , co = 0.0022 , cu = 0.0035 ,
k 1 = 0.754, k 2 = 0.443 , k 3 = 1 , d' = 50 mm
fcd = fck / c = 16.67 MPa f yd = f yk / s = 191.3 MPa , yd = fyd / E s = 0.0009565 ,
e = M d / N d = 96 mm
R h = 0.85 R = 0.85 * 400 = 340mm , R h' = R h Dh = 330 mm, A sh = 0.25Dh2 = 78.54 mm 2 ,
rs = 0.5R d' = 0.5 * 400 50 = 150 mm , h = 4 A sh /(R h' s h ) = 0.00952 ,
50h = 0.75 h (R h / s h )1/ 2 = 0.013166 , K = 1 + (2.05 h fyk / fck ) = 1.17 ,
50u = (3 + 0.29k 3 fcd ) /(145k 3 fcd 1000) = 0.005528 ,
c = (K 0.5) /( 50u + 50h coK ) = 41.56

10

 ccu = K(0.2 / c + co ) = 0.0082 , k 1c = 0.827 , k 2c = 0.469

Solution

For n=10 bars,

z s = 2rs cos = 285.32 mm
Assume that c uc = 231.99 mm
c u = cu c uc / ccu = 99.02 mm
c uc = 231.99 mm < 0.5R h = 170 mm

= cos 1 [(0.5R h c uc + c u ) /(0.5R h )] = 1.790 rad

c = cos 1 [(c uc 0.5R h ) /(0.5R h )] = 1.944 rad

The values si may be determined from the strain diagram:

s1 = [c uc 0.5(Rh z s )]ccu / c uc = 0.00723

s1 > 0, yd < s1 < sh, s1 = fyd = 191.3 N/mm2

s2 = [c uc 0.5Rh + 0.588rs ]ccu / c uc = 0.005308

s2 > 0, yd < s2 < sh , s2 = fyd = 191.3 N/mm2

s3 = [c uc 0.5Rh ]ccu / c uc = 0.00219
s3 > 0,

yd < s3 < sh, s3 = fyd = 191.3 N/mm2

s 4 < 0,

s 4 < yd , s 4 = s 4Es = 0.000926 * 2 * 105 = 185.2 N/mm

s 4 = [c uc 0.5R h 0.588rs ] ccu / c uc = 0.000926,

2

s5 = [c uc 0.5(R h + z s )] ccu / c uc = 0.002851,

s5 < 0, yd < s5 < sh , s5 = fyd = 191.3 N/mm

And from Eq.26 we write

D 2v1 = 2[Nd 0.25Kfcdk 1c R h2 ( c sin c cos c ) 0.25k 3 fcdk 1(R 2 R h2 )( c ) ]/

[( s1 + s2 + s3 + + s 4 + s5 ) ] = 367.85

From Eq.28 we have

Nu = 1202.21 kN . Because of Nu Nd
Total area of longitudinal steel in the section is
A s v = nA si = n0.25D 2v1 = 10 * 0.25 * * 367.85 = 2889.09 mm2 (10 20)

The ultimate curvature is

uc = ccu / x uc = 0.0082 / 231.99 * 2 * 10 5 = 0.03535 rad/m

11

Balanced Eccentricity
c b = cu /( cu + yd ) 0.5(R + z s ) = 269.11 mm

c bc = ccu /( ccu + yd ) 0.5(R h + z s ) = 280 mm

c b = 269.11mm > 0.5R h = 170 mm
c bc = 280 mm > 0.5R h = 170 mm

b = cos 1 [(0.5R h c uc + c u ) /(0.5R h )] = 2.781 rad

bc = cos 1[(c uc 0.5R h ) /(0.5R h )] = 2.275 rad

sb1 = [c bc 0.5(Rh zs )]ccu / c bc = 0.007399 N/mm2

s1 > 0,

yd < s1 < sh, s1 = fyd = 191.3 N/mm2

s2 > 0,

yd < s2 < sh, s2 = fyd = 191.3 N/mm2

s3 > 0,

yd < s3 < sh, s3 = fyd = 191.3 N/mm2

sb2 = [c bc 0.5Rh + 0.588rs ]ccu / c bc = 0.005804

sb3 = [c bc 0.5Rh ]ccu / c bc = 0.003221

s 4 = [c uc 0.5R h 0.588rs ] ccu / c bc = 0.0006384,

s 4 > 0, s 4 < yd , s 4 = s 4E s = 0.0006384 * 2 * 10 5 = 127.68 N/mm2

s5 = [c bc 0.5(R h + z s )] ccu / c bc = 0.0009565,

s5 < 0, yd < s5 < sh , s5 = fyd = 191.3 N/mm

A si = 0.25 * * 400 = 314.16 mm2

Substituting the values calculated into Eq.33 gives
e b = 55.12 mm
e = 96 mm > e b = 55.12 mm
Therefore, a tension failure occurs.
) Calculate A sv and u for unconfined circular column.

The total area is A sv = 1533.02 mm2 ( 1014) and the ultimate curvature is
uc = 0.0132 rad/m .

5. CONCLUSIONS

The bending moment distribution is related to the ductility at plastic hinges of reinforced
conrete structures. Also, structures subjected to seismic action must be ductile enough to
absorb and dissipate energy. Past research has shown that the ductility enough to absorb
and dissipation capacity of a reinforced concrete member can be improved significantly
by confining the concrete by circular spirals. In this context, the confined circular short
columns can be accurately designed, including consideration of the strain hardening in
steel. Besides, the capacities of potential plastic hinge rotation are estimated greater than
the real values because of the negligence of the strain hardening effect.

12

6. REFERENCES
1.ACI Committee 318, (1984a), Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete,
ACI Publication, Detroit.

2.BSI, (1980), Code of Practice for Structural Use of Concrete (CP 110, Part 1: Design,
Materials and Workmanship), British Standards Institution, London.
3.CEB, (1991a), CEB FIP Model Code 1990 Final Draft Chapter 1-3, Bulletin
dInformation, 203.
4.Ersoy, U., (1985b), Betonarme Temel lkeler ve Tama Gc Hesab Cilt 1, Bizim Bro
Basmevi, Ankara.
5.Ersoy, U., Tankut, T. ve Uzumeri, S.M., (1987), The Influence of Strain History and
Strain Gradient of Confined Concrete, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 14 (3).
6.FIP/CEB, (1990), High Strength Concrete, State of the Art Report, Bulletin
dInformation, 197.
7.Gndz, A., (1986) Kuatlmam Betonlu Dikdrtgen Kiri Kesitlerinde Moment-erilik
likilerinin Belirlenmesiyle lgili Bir Tasarm Algoritmas YT Dergisi, Say 1.
8.Gndz, A., (1991a), Yksek ve Normal Mukavemetli Betonlarn Davrannn Yanal
Donatyla Yetkinletirilmesi, TMMOB naat Mhendisleri Odas stanbul ubesi 2.
Ulusal Beton Kongresi, 27-30 Mays, stanbul.
9.Gndz, A. ve Noyan, S., (1988), Kuatlm Kesitli Betonarme Kirilerde Son Limit
Momentinin ve Eriliinin Donatdaki Pekleme Gz nne Alnarak Belirlenmesi, Yldz
niversitesi Dergisi Say 2 , stanbul, 13-20.
10.Gndz, A. ve Noyan, S., (1993 ), Kuatlmam Betonlu Ksa Kolonlar in
Gelitirilmi Tasarm Algoritmalar, Yldz Teknik niversitesi Dergisi Say 4, stanbul, 1726.
11.Kent, D.C. ve Park, R., (1971), Flexural Members With Confined Concrete,
Proceedings ASCE, 97 (7).
12.Mac Gregor, J.G., (1997), Reinforced Concrete Mechanics and Design, Prentice Hall
International Inc., New Jersey.
13.Park, R., Priestley, M.J. ve Gill, W.D., (1982), Ductility of Square Confined Concrete
Columns, Proceedings ASCE, 108 (4).
14. Park, R., and Paulay, T., (1975), Reinforced Concrete Structures, Wiley, New York,
769 pp.
15.Sheikh, S.A., (1982), A Comperative Study of Confinement Models,Journal of the
American Concrete Institute, 79 (3): 296-305.

13

c
Kfcd

B
Confined concrete

k3fcd

cco = co K

Unconfined concrete

0.8 Kfcd

0.5fcd
0.2Kfcd
0.2fcd
A

C
C
co cco cu

50u

ccu 20u 50uc 20uc

Figure 1. Idealized stress-strain behaviour model for concrete confined by circular

spirals

14

s
fsu

Ep

fyk
fsud

fyd

fyhd

Es
0

yd

yk

sh= shd

sud

su

Figure 2. Idealized stress-strain behaviour model for steel, including the effect of strain
hardening

15

rs = 0.5R d'
z s = 2rs cos

rs

zs

Figure 3. Geometric parameter

16

(b1) Cross-section

(b2) Strain
distribution

(b3) Stress distribution

and internal forces

Nu
Rh
d

cu

c
Dh
As

dc

Kfcd

ccu
s1
cu
s2

cu
zs

s3

e'

s4

Dv

s1 c1
s2
c2

si

s3
s4
si

R h'
R
c1 = 0.25Kfcdk 1c R h2 ( c sin c cos c )
c 2 = 0.25k 3 fcdk 1(R 2 R h2 )( c )
Figure 4. The analysis of short columns

17