Experimental study on long-term behavior of RC columns subjected to sustained eccentric load

To investigate the long-term behavior of eccentrically loaded RC columns, which are more realistic in practice than concentrically loaded RC columns, long-term eccentric loading tests were conducted for 10 RC columns. Test parameters included concrete compressive strength, reinforcement ratio, bar yield strength, eccentricity ratio, slenderness ratio, and loading pattern. Test results showed that the strain and curvature of the columns increased with time, and concrete forces were gradually transferred to longitudinal bars due to the creep and shrinkage of concrete. The long-term behavior of the columns varied with the test parameters, and long-term effects were more pronounced in the case of using the lower strength concrete, lower strength steel, lower bar ratio, fewer loading-step, higher eccentricity ratio, and higher slenderness ratio. However, in all the columns, no longitudinal bars were yielded under service loads at the final measuring day. Meanwhile, the numerical analysis modeling using the ultimate creep coefficient and ultimate shrinkage strain measured from cylinder tests gave quite good predictions for the behavior of the columns.