Shear resistance analysis of intermediate short columns subjected to lateral loading using numerical method

The shear behavior of intermediate short columns affects the overall performance and behavior of reinforced concrete buildings subjected to lateral loads. In this study, a reinforced concrete intermediate short column subjected to the simultaneous action of constant axial load and lateral loading underwent nonlinear finite element analysis using ANSYS 2019. The most important factors influencing the response of an intermediate short column under axial load and lateral load acting simultaneously were examined using a finite element parametric study. As study parameters, axial load ratio, height-to-depth ratio, and transverse reinforcement ratio were taken into consideration. The load–displacement behavior, crack pattern, shear capacity, plastic strain in ties, and ductility of the reinforced concrete intermediate short column were discussed in brief concerning the parametric finite element analysis results. The ratio of height-to-depth, the ratio of axial load, and the spacing of transverse reinforcement, all had a significant impact on the behavior of the crack pattern and plastic strain of reinforced concrete intermediate short columns. With a decrease in the height-to-depth ratio and an increase in the axial load ratio and transverse reinforcement ratio, the ultimate shear capacity of reinforced concrete intermediate short columns significantly improved. At last, the ultimate shear capacity of reinforced concrete intermediate short columns obtained from the ANSYS method has been compared with the results obtained from the mathematical formula prescribed by ACI and ASCE codes for various column specimens. The variation coefficient was found for ACI and ASCE methods as 0.82 and 0.85, respectively.