Reinforced Concrete I Dr.

Nasr Abboushi

6.11 BIAXIALLY LOADED COLUMNS.

The analysis and design of columns under eccentric loading was discussed earlier in this
chapter, considering a uniaxial case. This means that the load was acting along the
, causing a combination of axial load and a moment about the equal to
or acting along the with an eccentricity , causing a combination of
an axial load and a moment .

If the load is acting anywhere such that its distance from the is and its
distance from the is , then the column section will be subjected to a combination
of forces: an axial load and a moment about the and a moment
about the .The column section in this case is said to be subjected to
biaxial bending. The analysis and design of columns under this combination of forces is not
simple when the principles of statics are used. The neutral axis is at an angle with respect to
both axes, and lengthy calculations are needed to determine the location of the neutral axis,
strains, concrete compression area, and
internal forces and their point of
application. Therefore, it was necessary
to develop practical solutions to estimate
the strength of columns under axial load
and biaxial bending. The formulas
developed relate the response of the
column in biaxial bending to its uniaxial
strength about each major axis.
The biaxial bending strength of an axially
loaded column can be represented by a
three-dimensional interaction curve, as
shown in figure. The surface is formed by
a series of uniaxial interaction curves
drawn radially from the . The
Reinforced Concrete I Dr. Nasr Abboushi

curve represents the interaction curve in uniaxial bending about the , and the
curve represents the curve in uniaxial bending about the . The plane at
constant axial load represents the contour of the bending moment about any axis.
Different shapes of columns may be used to resist axial loads and biaxial bending. Circular,
square, or rectangular column cross-sections may be used with equal or unequal bending
capacities in the and directions.

6.12 SQUARE AND RECTANGULAR COLUMNS UNDER BIAXIAL BENDING. BRESLER

RECIPROCAL METHOD.

Square or rectangular columns with unequal bending moments about their major axes will
require a different amount of reinforcement in each direction. An approximate method of
analysis of such sections was developed by Boris Bresler and is called the Bresler reciprocal
method. According to this method, the load capacity of the column under biaxial bending
can be determined by using the following expression (Bresler equation):

where
factored load under biaxial bending,
factored uniaxial load when the load acts at an eccentricity and
factored uniaxial load when the load acts at an eccentricity and
factored axial load when

The uniaxial load strengths , , and can be calculated according to the equations
and method given earlier in this chapter. After that, they are substituted into the above
Bresler equation to calculate . The Bresler equation is valid for all cases when is equal
to or greater than . When is less than ., the axial force may be neglected and
the section can be designed as a member subjected to pure biaxial bending according to the
following equations:

where
Reinforced Concrete I Dr. Nasr Abboushi

design moment about the

design moment about the
and uniaxial moment strengths about the and axes

The Bresler equation is not recommended when the section is subjected to axial tension
loads.

Example
Determine the nominal compressive strength of the short tied column, which is subjected
to biaxial bending.
and
Take ,

𝑒𝑥 𝑚𝑚
𝑦

𝑚𝑚
⊕
𝑚𝑚

𝑒𝑦
𝑥
𝑥
𝑏

𝑚𝑚