Experimental Research of Reinforced Concrete Columns Behavior under the Long-Term Eccentric Normal Force

Abstract

The research described in this paper makes a part of a voluminous research project the experimental part of which has been carried out in the laboratories of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, under the direction of Professor Renaud Favre, the Director of the Institute for Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete at EPFL. It is primarily oriented towards time-dependent behavior of reinforced concrete structures under the service loads. The purpose of the investigation of the reinforced concrete columns behavior under the long-term action of eccentric compressive normal force was to experimentally establish the moment-normal force-curvature relationship as well as to follow the appearance and time-dependent development of cracks.