HIGH-WORKABILITY CONCRETE COLUMNS UNDER CONCENTRIC COMPRESSION

30 column specimens were fabricated and tested to investigate the behavior of high workability concrete (HWC) columns under concentric compression. 15 of the columns were made with HWC and the remainder were made with normal concrete. Test variables included concrete strength, amount of longitudinal reinforcement (LR), volumetric ratio of transverse reinforcement (TR), strength of TR, and the arrangement of TR. Comparisons were made between HWC columns and normal concrete columns. Results show that HWC columns have higher stiffness than normal concrete columns. Ductility and crack control ability of HWC columns are better than those of normal concrete columns. A decrease of concrete strength, increase of LR, increase of TR strength, and decrease of TR spacing improve the ductility of confined concrete and columns effectively. In addition, high-strength TR can be used to reduce the amount of confining reinforcement required based on the same ductility demand basis and can further alleviate the steel congestion and improve the concrete quality in the members.