RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE MEMBERS STRENGTHENING BY AUGMENTED SECTION UNDER ECCENTRIC COMPRESSION

When calculating the reliability of eccentric compression members which is reinforced by augmented section, it would be of significance to take into account parameters such as initial eccentricity, load ratio as well as the ratio of longitudinal reinforcement. In this paper, formulas to calculate the ultimate bearing capacity of symmetrically reinforced members along the Nu-Mu interaction curve equation are deduced. Then, the limit state equation is developed. Monte Carlo method is adopted to calculate the reliability of eccentric compression members reinforced by increasing section area. Furthermore, the effects of initial eccentricity, load ratio and ratio of longitudinal reinforcement on the reliability of four column sections are studied. It can be concluded that reliability index is significantly affected by initial eccentricity, load ratio and ratio of longitudinal reinforcement, while the influence of section area is much less pronounced compared with the other three parameters. Reliability index increases with the ratio of longitudinal reinforcement, but decreases with the initial eccentricity and load ratio.