The collapse behaviour of columns with low aspect-ratios

Abstract

The ultimate drift capacity of a lateral load resisting element is usually defined by the conditions at which the maximum lateral load resisting capacity is reduced to 80% of the design strength. This definition for the ultimate drift capacity can be overly conservative in conditions that are characterised by displacementcontrolled seismic behaviour as illustrated with the case study of a soft-storey building. In such conditions, the ultimate drift capacity of the soft-storey column is defined as the drift atwhich the column could no longer sustain gravitational loading. This paper is concerned mainly with the ultimate behaviour of columns with low aspect ratios and poor confinement conditio..