Dimensionless analysis of RC rectangular sections under axial load and biaxial bending

This paper proposes a numerical procedure able to provide ultimate curvature and moment domains of rectangular RC sections subjected to combined axial load and biaxial bending. The formulation is carried out in dimensionless terms in order to give results that are valid for classes of sections characterized by the same values of the geometric and mechanical parameters governing the section response. The role of some of these parameters is investigated here. The results show possible correlations linking the actual values of moment and curvature to the values corresponding to two cases of uniaxial bending to be considered separately.

Highlight
► The columns of RC framed structures bear compression and biaxial bending.
► Ultimate moment and curvature depend on the dimensionless parameters defined here.
► The role of the parameters can easily be evaluated by the proposed procedure.
► Approximate laws linking the moment components to the uniaxial moments are confirmed.
► Similar correlations are possible for the ultimate values of curvature.