Nonlinear numerical simulation of RC columns subjected to cyclic oriented lateral force and axial loading

A nonlinear Finite Element (FE) algorithm is proposed to analyze the Reinforced Concrete (RC) columns subjected to Cyclic Loading (CL), Cyclic Oriented Lateral Force and Axial Loading (COLFAL), Monotonic Loading (ML) or Oriented Pushover Force and Axial Loading (OPFAL) in any direction. In the proposed algorithm, the following parameters are considered: uniaxial behavior of concrete and steel elements, the pseudo-plastic hinge produced in the critical sections, and global behavior of RC columns. In the proposed numerical simulation, the column is discretized into two Macro-Elements (ME) located between the pseudo-plastic hinges at critical sections and the inflection point. The critical sections are discretized into Fixed Rectangular Finite Elements (FRFE) in general cases of CL, COLFAL or ML and are discretized into Variable Oblique Finite Elements (VOFE) in the particular cases of ML or OPFAL. For pushover particular case, a fairly fast converging and properly accurate nonlinear simulation method is proposed to assess the behavior of RC columns. The proposed algorithm has been validated by the results of tests carried out on full-scale RC columns.