Short Rectangular RC Columns Under Bidirectional Loadings

Short columns in reinforced concrete buildings have been shown to perform poorly under earthquake loads. This study examines the strength of short columns with square or rectangular sections under loadings in directions corresponding to the principal axes of the section, as well as loadings in diagonal directions. The results from 20 tests were considered. It was concluded that the shear capacity of short columns under loadings skewed with respect to the principal axes could be estimated simply and accurately using interaction curves.