Experimental and analytical investigation on RC columns with distributed-steel bar

Distributed-Steel Bar Reinforced Concrete (DSBRC) columns, a new and innovative construction technique for composite steel and concrete material which can alleviate the difficulty in the arrangement of the stirrup in the column, were studied experimentally and analytically in this paper. In addition, an ordinary steel Reinforced Concrete (SRC) column was also tested for comparison purpose. The specimens were subjected to quasi-static load reversals to model the earthquake effect. The experimental results including the hysteresis curve, resistance recession, skeleton curves and ductility ratio of columns were obtained, which showed well resistant-seismic behavior for DSBRC column. Meanwhile a numerical three-dimensional nonlinear finite-element (FE) analysis on its mechanical behavior was also carried out. The numerically analyzed results were then compared to the experimental results for validation. The parametric studies and investigation about the effects of several critical factors on the seismic behavior of the DSBRC column were also conducted, which include axial compression ratios, steel ratio, concrete strength and yield strength of steel bar.