KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering (2011) 15(1):131-144 Structural Engineering

DOI 10.1007/s12205-011-0729-4
www.springer.com/12205

Curvature Ductility of RC Sections Based on Eurocode: Analytical Procedure

Srinivasan Chandrasekaran*, Luciano Nunziante**, Giorgio Serino***, and Federico Carannante****
Received October 12, 2008/Accepted March 16, 2010

Abstract

Correct estimate of curvature ductility of reinforced concrete members has always been an attractive subject of study as it
engenders a reliable estimate of capacity of buildings under seismic loads. The majority of the building stock needs structural
assessment to certify their safety under revised seismic loads by new codes. Structural assessment of existing buildings, by
employing nonlinear analyses tools like pushover, needs an accurate input of moment-curvature relationship for reliable results. In
the present study, nonlinear characteristics of constitutive materials are mathematically modelled according to Eurocode, currently in
prevalence and analytical predictions of curvature ductility of reinforced concrete sections are presented. Relationships, in explicit
form, to estimate the moment-curvature response are proposed, leading to closed form solutions after their verification with those
obtained from numerical procedures. The purpose is to estimate curvature ductility under service loads in a simpler closed form
manner. The influence of longitudinal tensile and compression steel reinforcement ratios on curvature ductility is also examined and
discussed. The spread sheet program used to estimate the moment-curvature relationship, after simplifying the complexities involved
in such estimate, predicts in good agreement with the proposed analytical expressions. Avoiding somewhat tedious hand calculations
and approximations required in conventional iterative design procedures, the proposed estimate of curvature ductility avoids errors
and potentially unsafe design.
Keywords: analytical solutions, concrete, curvature ductility, elasto plastic, reinforced concrete, seismic, structures, yield

1. Introduction
The focus of earthquake resistant design of Reinforced Concrete
(RC) framed structures is on the displacement ductility of the
buildings rather than on the materials like reinforcing steel.
Critical points of interest are the strain levels in concrete and
steel, indicating whether the failure is tensile or compressive at
the instant of reaching plastic hinge formation (Pisanty and
Regan, 1998). Studies show that the estimate of ductility demand
is of particular interest to structural designers to ensure effective
redistribution of moments in ultra-elastic response, allowing for
the development of energy dissipative zones until collapse (see,
for example, Pisanty and Regan, 1993). In areas subjected to
earthquakes, a very important design consideration is the ductility
of the structure because modern seismic design philosophy is
based on energy absorption and dissipation by post-elastic defor-
mation for survival in major earthquakes (Paulay and Priestley,
1992). Many old buildings show their structure unfit to support
seismic loads demanded by the structural assessment requests of
the revised international codes (see, for example, Chandrasekaran
and Roy, 2006; Chao Hsun Huang et al., 2006). Further, Sinan
and Metin (2007) showed that the deformation demand pre-
dictions by improved Demand Capacity Method are sensitive to
ductility as higher ductility results in conservative predictions.
Estimate of moment-curvature relationship of RC sections has
been a point of research interest since many years (Pfrang et al.,
1964; Carrreira and Chu, 1986; Mo, 1992); historically, moment-
curvature relationships with softening branch were first intro-
duced by Wood (1968). Load-deformation characteristics of RC
structural members, bending in particular, are mainly dependent
on moment-curvature characteristics of the sections as most of
these deformations arise from strains associated with flexure
(Park and Paulay, 1975). As seen from the literature, in well-
designed and detailed RC structures, the gap between the actual
and design lateral forces narrows down by ensuring ductility in
the structure (see, for example, Luciano and Raffaele, 1988;
Pankaj and Manish, 2006). With regard to RC building frames
with side-sway, their response assessment is complicated not
because of the influence of second order deformations, but also
due to the fact that considerable re-distribution of moments may
occur due to plastic behaviour of sections. Plastic curvature is
therefore a complex issue mainly because of interaction of various

*Associate Professor, Dept. of Ocean Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India (Corresponding Aughor, E-mail:
drsekaran@iitm.ac.in)
**Professor, Dept. of Structural Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 21 via Claudio, 80125, Naples, Italy (E-mail: nunsci@unina.it)
***Professor, Dept. of Structural Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 21 via Claudio, 80125, Naples, Italy (E-mail: serino@unina.it)
****Visiting Researcher, Dept. of Structural Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 21 via Claudio, 80125, Naples, Italy (E-mail: fedcarran@libero.it)

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 Srinivasan Chandrasekaran, Luciano Nunziante, Giorgio Serino, and Federico Carannante

parameters namely: i) constitutive materials response; ii) mem- 2. Mathematical Development

ber geometry; as well as iii) loading conditions. Observations
made by Challamel and Hjiaj (2005) on plastic softening beams Significant nonlinearity exhibited by concrete, under multi-
show that the correct estimate of yield moment, a non-local axial stress state, can be successively represented by nonlinear
material parameter, is important to ensure proper continuity characteristics of constitutive models capable of interpreting
between elastic and plastic regions during the loading process. inelastic deformations (see, for example, Chen 1994a, 1994b).
Experimental evidences on moment-curvature relationship of Studies conducted by researchers (Sankarasubramanian and
RC sections already faced limited loading cases and support Rajasekaran, 1996; Fan and Wang, 2002; Nunziante et al., 2007)
conditions (see, for example, Ko et al., 2001). While Mo (1992) describe different failure criteria in stress space by a number of
suggested classical approach to reproduce moment-curvature independent control parameters while the non-linear elastic
relationship with the softening branch carried out elastic-plastic response of concrete is characterized by parabolic stress-strain
buckling analysis using finite element method, an alternative relationship in the current study, as shown in Fig. 1. Elastic limit
approach proposed by Jirasek and Bazant (2002) uses a simpli- strain and strain at cracking are limited to 0.2% and 0.35%
fied model where this complex nonlinear geometric effect is respectively, as prescribed by the code, currently in prevalence
embedded in the nonlinear material behaviour of the cross (DM 9, 1996; UNI ENV, 1991a, 1991b; Ordinanza, 2003, 2005;
section. Experimental investigations also impose limitations in Norme tecniche, 2005). Tensile stresses in concrete are ignored
estimating the plastic rotation capacity. For instance, studies in the study. Design ultimate stress in concrete in compression is
show that experimental results obtained from rotation-deflection given by:
behaviour show good agreement with the analysis in elastic
( 0.83 ) ( 0.85 )R
regime; but for phase of yielding of reinforcing steel, theoretical c0 = -------------------------------------
cK
- (1)
c
results do not agree with the experimental inferences (see, for
example, Lopes and Bernardo, 2003). where, c and Rck are the partial safety factor and compressive cube
Studies reviewed above show that there exists no simplified strength of concrete, respectively. The stress-strain relationship for
procedure to estimate curvature ductility of RC sections. While re- concrete under compressive stresses is given by:
sponse of RC building frames under ground shaking generally
results in nonlinear behaviour, increased implementation of displa- c ( c ) = a 2c + b c + c 0 c c0
cement-based design approach lead to the use of nonlinear static c ( c ) = c0 c0 c cu (2)
procedures for estimating their seismic demands (ATC, 2005; c ( c ) = 0 c 0
BSSC, 2003). An estimate of moment-curvature relationship be-
comes essential for performing non-linear analyses. Therefore, in where, parameters a, b and c in Eq. (2), are determined by
this study, an estimate of curvature ductility of RC sections, using imposing the following conditions:
detailed analytical procedure is attempted. Calculations of moment- c ( c = 0 ) = 0
curvature relationship are based on their nonlinear characteristics c=0
in full depth of the cross section, for different ratios of longitudinal c ( c = c0 ) = c0
a 2c0 + b c0 = c0 (3)
tensile and compression reinforcements. They account for the vari- d c
-------- =0 2a c0 + b = 0
ation on depth of neutral axis passing through different domains, d c c = c0
classified on the basis of strain levels reached in the constitutive
By solving, we get:
materials, namely concrete and steel. Obtained results, by employ-
ing the numerical procedure on example RC sections, are verified c0 2 c0
-, b = ---------
a = ------ -, c = 0 (4a)
with expressions derived from detailed analytical modelling. 2
c0 c0

Fig. 1. Stress-strain Relationships: (a) Concrete, (b) Steel

132 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering

 Curvature Ductility of RC Sections Based on Eurocode: Analytical Procedure

Stress-strain relationship for concrete is given by:

c0 2 2 c0
c = ------
- c + ---------- c (4b)
2c0 c0
Stress-strain relationship for steel, an isotropic and homogene-
ous material, is shown in Fig. 1. While the ultimate limit strain in
tension and that of compression are taken as 1% and 0.35%
respectively, elastic strain in steel in tension and compression are
considered the same in absolute values (see, for example, DM9,
1996). The design ultimate stress in steel is given by:

s0 = -----y (5)
s
Fig. 2. Curvature Profile for Strain Variation in Concrete and Steel
where s and y are partial safety factor and yield strength of
reinforcing steel, respectively. Stress-strain relationship for steel
is given by: st = Es e ( D xe d ) (7b)

s ( s ) = Es s 0 s s0 2.1.1 Tensile Axial Force

s ( s ) = s0 s0 s su, tensile ( su, tensile = su ) (6) Tensile axial force results in reduced curvature for which axial
force and bending moment, in explicit form, are given by:
s ( s ) = s0 su, compressive s s0
Pe = st Ast + scAsc = b ( d D )
The fundamental Bernoullis hypothesis of linear strain over
[ d ( pc pt ) + Dpt ( pc + pt )xc ]Es (8)
the cross section, both for elastic and for elastic-plastic responses
of the beam under bending moment combined with axial force, D 1
Me = ( st Ast + sc Asc ) ---- d = --- b ( D 2d ) ( D d )
will be assumed. The interaction behaviour becomes critical when 2 2
one the following conditions apply namely: i) strain in reinforc-
[ ( pc pt )xc + Dpt d ( pc + pt ) ]Es (9)
ing steel in tension reaches ultimate limit; ii) strain in concrete in
extreme compression fibre reaches ultimate limit; as well as iii) Percentage of steel, in tension and compression zones, is given
maximum strain in concrete in compression reaches elastic limit by:
under only axial compression. In the following section, only re-
Ast = pt b ( D d ) ; Asc = pc b ( D d ) (10)
ctangular RC sections under axial force, P and bending moment,
M will be considered. By solving the Eq. (8) respect to xc, we obtain the following
relationship:
2.1 Moment-curvature in Elastic Range
Pe + b ( d D ) [ d ( pc pt ) + Dpt ]Es
It is well known that the bending curvature is the derivative of xc = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- (11)
bending rotation, varying along the member length and at any b ( d D )( pc + pt )Es
cross section, it is given by the slope of the strain profile. It depends By substituting the Eq. (11) in Eq. (9), moment-curvature re-
on the fluctuations of the neutral axis depth and continuously lationship is given by:
varying strains. The moment-curvature relationship, in elastic
range, depends on both the magnitude and nature of the axial force D 2d
Me = --------------------- [Pe ( pc pt ) + 2b(D + d 3dD)Es pc pt ]
2 2
2 ( pc + pt )
as well. Fig. 2 shows the variation of curvature with respect to
strain variation in constitutive materials. Magnitude of axial force [ 0 ,0 ] (12)
is assumed to vary in the range:
where, 0 is the limit curvature for xc = 0; by imposing this con-
(Asc + Ast) s0 < P < {bDc0 + (Asc + Ast) s0} (7a) dition in Eq. (11), we get:
Nature of axial force shall vary as: i) tensile axial force (con- P
0 = ----------------------------------------------------------------
e
- (13)
sidered as negative in this study); ii) zero axial force; as well as b ( d D )Es [ Dpt + d ( pc pt ) ]
iii) compressive axial force (considered positive). Stress and
As curvature is influenced by percentage of tension reinforce-
strain in concrete and steel, in elastic range are given by:
ment, by imposing the conditions: xc = 0 & = s0 ( D d ) in
c = e ( xc y ) ; sc = e ( xc d ); st = e ( D xc d ) ; Eq. (8) and solving with respect to pt, for a specified range of:
( xc y ) [ 2 c0 ( xc y ) c0 e ] pt < ( Pe + bdEs pc s0 ) ( b ( d D ) s0 ) (14)
c = ---------------------------------------------------------------
- ; sc = Es e ( xc d );
2c0 Eq. (12) is defined in the total range [0, E], where E is the

Vol. 15, No. 1 / January 2011 133

 Srinivasan Chandrasekaran, Luciano Nunziante, Giorgio Serino, and Federico Carannante

Me = B0 ( e ) + B1 ( e )xc3 ( e, Pe ) + B2 ( e )xc3 ( e, Pe )
2
limit elastic curvature and is derived in following section.
For further increase in curvature more than 0, concrete also + B3 ( e )xc3 ( e, Pe ) + B4 ( e )xc3 ( e, Pe ) [ 0, E ]
3 r
(20)
contributes to the compression resultant and the expressions for
axial force and bending moment take the form, as given below: 2.1.2 Axial Force Equal to Zero
xc The moment-curvature relationship is given by Eq. (20) for the
Pe = b c [ c ( y ) ]dy st ( Ast + sc Asc ) complete of [0, E].
0

= A0 ( e ) + A1 ( e )xc + A2 ( e )xc + A3 ( e )xc

2 3
(15)
xc
2.1.3 Compressive Axial Force
D D
Me = b c [ c ( y ) ] ---- y dy + ( st Ast + sc Asc ) ---- d , Expressions for axial force and bending moment are given by:
0
2 2 D
Pe = b c [ c ( y ) ]dy st Ast + sc Asc = E0 + E1 xc + E2 xc
2
Me = B0 ( e ) + B1 ( e )xc + B2 ( e )xc + B3 ( e )xc + B4 ( e )xc (16)
2 3 4 (21)
0

where, the coefficients Ai (for i = 0 to 3) and Bi (for i = 0 to 4), as

D
a function of curvature are given by: D D
Me = b c [ c ( y ) ] ---- y dy + ( st Ast + sc Asc ) ---- d
0
2 2
A0 ( e ) = b ( d D ) [ Dpt + d ( pc pt ) ]Es e ;
A1 ( e ) = b ( D d ) ( pc + pt )Es e ; (17) = F0 + F1 xe (22)
b c0 e b c0 e
2
A2 ( e ) = --------------
- ; A3 ( e ) = -------------- -; where, the coefficients Ei= 0,1,2 and Fi=0,1 are given by:
c0 3 c0
2

D c0 ( 3 c0 + D )
2
1 1
E0 = --- b 3d ( d D )Es pc 3 ( d D ) Es pt ----------------------------------------
2
B0 ( e ) = --- b ( 2d 3dD + D ) [ Dpt d ( pc + pt ) ]Es e ;
2 2
,
2 3 2c0
1 bD c0 e
b [ dEs ( pc + pt ) c0 + D ( Es ( pc + pt ) c0 + c0 ( 2 c0 + D ) ) ]
2 2
B1 ( e ) = --- b ( 2d 3dD + D ) ( pc pt )Es e ; B2 ( e ) = -------------------
2 2
-;
2 2 c0 E1 = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-,
2
c0
b c0 e ( 2 c0 + D e ) b c0 e
2
B3 ( e ) = -------------------------------------------
- ; B4 ( e ) = ---------------
bD c0
2
6 c0 12 c0
2 2
E2 = -------------------
-,
By solving Eq. (15) with respect to variable xc, three roots of
2
c0
the variable are obtained as: b 2
F0 = ------ [6d ( D 2d ) ( D d )Es pc + 6 ( d D ) ( 2d D )Es pt
12
1
D c0 ( 2 c0 + D )
3
xc1 ( Pe, e ) = ------------------ [ ( 2A2 ( e ) )
6A3 ( e ) ---------------------------------------- ,
2
c0
2.5198 ( A2 ( e ) 3A1 ( e )A3 ( e ) )
2
+ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- + 1.5874C1 ( e, Pe ) (18) b [ 3 ( D + 2d 3dD ) ( pc pt )Es c0 D c0 ]
2 2 2 3
C 1 ( e, P e ) F1 = ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- (23)
6 c0
2
1
xc2 ( Pe, e ) = ---------------------
12A3 ( e ) By solving the Eq. (21), position of neutral axis is determined
( 2.5198 + 4.3645i ) ( A ( e ) 3A1 ( e )A3 ( e ) )
2 as:
4A2 ( e ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2
-
C 1 ( e, P e ) E1 + E1 4E2 ( E0 Pe )
2
xc = ---------------------------------------------------------
- (24)
( 1.5874 2.7495i )C1 ( e, Pe ) 2E0
1 By substituting the Eq. (24) in Eq. (22), we get:
xc3 ( Pe, e ) = ---------------------
12A3 ( e )
Me = F0 ( , Pe ) + F1 ( , Pe )xc [ 0 , 0 ] (25)
( 2.5198 4.3645 i ) ( A2 ( e ) 3A1 ( e )A3 ( e ) )
2
4A2 ( e ) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- where,
C 1 ( e, P e )
( 1.5874 + 2.7495i )C1 ( e, Pe ) 3b c0 ( D d )Es ( Dpc + d ( pt pc ) ) + D c0
2
0 = -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
2bD c0
3

where,
c0 3b 3b [ ( D d )Es c0 ( ( Dpc + d ( pt pc ) ) + D c0 ) ] 4Pe D c0 2 2 3

2 3 3 2 2
13 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
+ 4 ( A 3A1 A3 ) + ( 2A 9A1 A2 A3 + 27A ( A0 Pe ) ) 2bD c0
3
C 1 ( e, P e ) = 2 2 3
3 2
2A2 + 9A1 A2 A3 27A3 ( A0 Pe) (26)
(19)
By imposing the condition (xc = D) in Eq. (24), limit curvature
Out of the above, only one root, namely xc3, closely matches 0 is determined as given above. Further increase in the curvature
with the numerical solution obtained and hence by substituting changes the equilibrium conditions due to the contributions to
the root xc3 in Eq. (18), moment-curvature relationship in elastic resultant compressive force by concrete. For curvature more than
range is obtained as: 0, moment-curvature relationship is given by Eq. (20).

134 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering

 Curvature Ductility of RC Sections Based on Eurocode: Analytical Procedure

2.2 Elastic Limit Bending Moment and Curvature where,

The limit elastic curvature, depending on the magnitude of
= [ 2L32 + 9L1 L2 L3 27L23 L0
axial force and percentage of reinforcing steel in tension and
compression, results in four possible cases namely: i) strain in 2 3 3 2 2 13
+ 4 ( L2 3L1 L3 ) + ( 2L2 9L1 L2 L3 + 27L3 L0 ) ] (34)
tension steel reaches yield limit and stress in concrete vanishes;
ii) strain in tension steel reaches yield limit but stress in concrete By substituting Eq. (33) in Eq. (16), limit elastic bending mo-
is present; iii) strain in compression steel reaches elastic limit; as ment is obtained as:
well as iiv) strain in extreme compression fibre in concrete ( ii) b M1 M2
( ii ) ( ii )
( ii) ( ii) ( ii ) ( ii ) ( ii)2
reaches elastic limit value. ME = --------2- ---------- + ---------
( ii )2 ( ii )
+ M3 + M4 E + M5 E (35)
2 c0 E E

2.2.1 Case (i): Strain in Tension Steel Reaches Yield Limit where, super script (ii) represents the second case; constants of
and Stress in Concrete Vanishes Eq. (35) are given by:
This case is verified when pt < ( Pe + bdEs pc s0 ) (b ( d D ) ( ii ) s0 ( 4 c0 + s0 ) c0 (ii) ( D 2d ) s0 ( 3 c0 + s0 ) c0
3 2

s0 ) . By imposing st = s0 and recalling the Eq. (8), depth of -, M2 = -----------------------------------------------------------,

M1 = --------------------------------------
6 3
neutral axis can be obtained as given below: ( ii )
M3 = ( D d ) s0 [ ( D 2 d )Es ( pt pc ) c0 d ( 2 c0 + s0 ) c0 ],
2

(i ) s0
xc = D d -----
- x c < 0 (27) ( D d ) [ 3 ( D 2d ) Es pc c0 + ( D d ) ( 2d + D ) ( 2 c0 + s0 ) c0 ] ,
2 2
E ( ii )
M4 = -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
3
By substituting the Eq. (27) in Eq. (8), elastic limit curvature
( d D ) ( D + d ) c0
3
can be determined as: ( ii )
M5 = ------------------------------------------
- (36)
6
PE + b ( D d ) ( pc + pt ) s0
E = --------------------------------------------------------
2 2
- (28)
bEs pc ( D + 2d 3dD ) 2.2.3 Case (iii): Strain in Compression Steel Reaches Elas-
By substituting Eq. (28) in Eq. (9), elastic limit moment is tic Limit Value
obtained as: Depth of neutral axis is given by:
(i) D 2d ( iii)
s0
ME = --------------- [ PE + 2b ( D d )pt s0 ] (29) xc = d + -----
- (37)
2 E

2.2.2 Case (ii): Strain in Tension Steel Reaches Yield Limit By substituting Eq. (37) in Eq. (15), expression for limit elastic
and Stress in Concrete Not Equal Zero curvature is obtained as:
Depth of neutral axis is given by: H0 + H1 E + H2 E + H3 E = 0
2 3
(38)
( ii )
s0
xc = D d -----
- xc [ 0, D d ] (30) where the constants Hi (for i = 0 to 3) are given by:
E
b s0 ( 3 c0 + s0 ) c0
2
By substituting Eq. (30) in Eq. (15), expression for limit elastic -,
H0 = -----------------------------------------
3 c0
2
curvature can be obtained as:
PE c0 + b s0 [ ( D d )Es ( pc + pt ) c0 + d c0 ( 2 c0 s0 ) ]
2 2
L 0 + L1 E + L2 E + L3 E = 0
2 3
(31) H1 = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ,
2
c0
where, the coefficients Li=0,1,2,3 are given by:
d c0 ( c0 s0 )
2
2 2
b ( 3 c0 + s0 ) c0
2 H2 = b ( 3dD D 2d )Es pt + ---------------------------------
- ,
s0
L0 = -----------------------------------------
-,
2
c0
2
3c0
bd c0
3

PE c0 + b ( D d ) s0 [ ( 2 c0 + s0 ) c0 + Es ( pc + pt ) c0 ]
2 2 H3 = --------------
- (39)
3 c0
2
L1 = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
2
c0
By solving Eq. (38), only one real root (the second one) gives
b ( D d ) [ ( 2d D )E p + ( d D ) ( c0 + s0 ) c0 ]
2
s c c0
L2 = ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- the limit elastic curvature as:
2
c0 2
1 ( 2.5198 + 4.3645i ) ( H 3H H )
b ( d D ) c0
3 (Eiii) = ------------ [4H2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 1 3
-
L3 = ----------------------------
- (32) 12H3
3 c0
2
( 1.5874 2.7495i ) ] (40)
By solving Eq. (31), which is of a third degree polynomial,
where,
only one real root (third root) gives the limit elastic curvature:
2 = [ 2H32 + 9H1 H2 H3 27H23 H0
1 ( 2.5198 4.3645i ) ( L2 3L1 L3 )
(Eii) = ----------- [4L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 13
12L3 2 3
+ 4 ( H2 3H1 H3 ) + ( 2H2 9H1 H2 H3 + 27H3 H0 ) ]
3 2

( 1.5874 + 2.7495i ) ] (33) (41)

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 Srinivasan Chandrasekaran, Luciano Nunziante, Giorgio Serino, and Federico Carannante

By substituting Eq. (40) in Eq. (16), limit elastic bending mo- result in a practical situation. For the case (xc>D), the limits of
ment can be obtained as follows: the integral in Eq. (15) will be from (0, D), which shall also result
( iii ) ( iii) in compression failure and hence not discussed. Expressions for
( iii ) b M1 M2
ME = --------2- ---------- - + M(3iii ) + M(4iii) (Eiii ) + M(5iii) (Eiii)2
- + ----------
( iii )2
(42) limit elastic moments are summarised as below:
2 c0 E (Eiii)
( ii )
ME if pt < pt, el
where, ME = ( iii) (50)
ME if pt < pt, el
( iii ) s0 ( s0 4 c0 ) c0 (iii) ( D 2d ) ( 3 c0 s0 ) s0 c0
3 2
M1 = -------------------------------------- , M2 = ----------------------------------------------------------, where pt,el , for tow cases namely: i) axial force neglected; and ii)
6 3
axial force considered are given by the following equations:
M3 = ( d D )s0 [ ( D 2d )Es ( pt pc ) c0 d ( 2 c0 s0 ) c0 ],
iii 2

D [ D ( 3 c0 s0 ) 6d c0 ] c0
2
pt, el = pe + ----------------------------------------------------------------
- (51)
d ( 3D 2d ) ( c0 s0 ) c0
2
6 ( D d ) ( D 2d ) Es c0
2 2
( iii )
= ( D d ) ( D 2d ) Es pt c0 + --------------------------------------------------------
2 2
M4 -,
3
6 ( D 2d ) c0 [ PE +b ( d D)Es pc s0 ] + bD s0 [ 6d c0 +D ( s0 3 c0 ) ] c0
2 2 2

d ( d 2D )
3 pt, el = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
6b (D d ) ( D 2d ) Es c0 s0
( iii ) 2 2
M 5 = -------------------------------c0- (43)
6
(52)
2.2.4 Case (iv): Strain in Extreme Compression Fibre in
Concrete Reaches Elastic Limit Value 2.3 Percentage of Steel for Balanced Section
Now, the depth of neutral axis is given by: Percentage of reinforcement in tension and compression for
balanced failure are obtained by considering both the conditions
( iv) c0 namely: i) maximum compressive strain in concrete reaches
xc = -----
- (44)
E ultimate limit strain; and ii) strain in tensile reinforcement
By substituting Eq. (44) in Eq. (15), expression for limit elastic reaches ultimate limit. Balanced reinforcement for two cases is
curvature is obtained as: considered namely: i) for beams where axial force vanishes; and
ii) for beam/columns where P-M interaction is predominantly
R0 + R1 E + R2 E = 0
2
(45) present. For sections with vanishing axial force, depth of neutral
where the constants Ri (for i = 0 to 2) are given by: axis is given by:
cu
2b c0 c0 xc = ----------------
- (D d) (53)
-, R1 = Pe + b ( D d )Es c0 ( pc + pt ),
R0 = ------------------- cu + su
3
R2 = b ( D d )Es [ Dpt d ( pt pe ) ] (46) For vanishing axial force, governing equation to determine the
percentage of reinforcement is given by:
By solving Eq. (45), the only real root (in this case, first root)
xc
gives the limit elastic curvature as: P = b c [ c ( y ) ]dy + ( Asc Ast ) s0 + qb c0 = 0 (54)
2 q
R + R 4R R
(Eiv) = --------------------------------------
1 1 0 2
- (47) In explicit form, Eq. (53) becomes:
2R 2

By substituting Eq. (47) in Eq. (16), limit elastic bending b ( d D ) [ c0 c0 3 cu c0 3 ( pc pt ) ( cu + su ) s0 ] = 0 (55)

moment, ME, can be obtained as follows: By solving, percentage of steel for balanced section is obtained
( iv ) M M
( iv )
( iv )
( iv )
( iv ) ( iv )
as:
ME = ---------- + ---------- + M3 + M4 E
1 2
(48)
( iv )2
( iv )
( 3 cu c0 ) c0
E E
pt, bal = pc + -------------------------------
- (56)
3 ( cu + su ) s0
where,
For a known cross section with fixed percentage of compres-
( iv ) bD c0 c0
M1 = --------------------
- sion reinforcement, Eq. (56) gives the percentage of steel for a
3
balanced section. It may be easily seen that for the assumed
( iv ) 1 2
M2 = --- b c0 c0 (49) condition of strain in compression steel greater than elastic limit,
4
Eq. (56) shall yield percentage of tension reinforcement for
( iv ) 1
M3 = --- b ( D + 2d 3dD )Es ( pc pt ) c0
2 2
balanced sections, whose overall depth exceeds 240 mm, which
2
is a practical case of cross section dimension of RC beams used
( iv ) 1 2 2
M4 = --- b ( D + 2d 3dD )Es [ Dpt d ( pc + pt ) ] in multi-storey building frames. For sections where axial force is
2
predominantly present, percentage of balanced reinforcement
It may be easily seen that for percentage of tension steel depends on the magnitude of axial force. By assuming the same
exceeding the maximum limit of 4%, as specified in many codes hypothesis presented above, depth of neutral axis is given by Eq.
(see for example Indian code (IS 456, 2000), case (iv) shall never (53); but Eq. (55) becomes as given below:

136 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering

 Curvature Ductility of RC Sections Based on Eurocode: Analytical Procedure

b ( d D ) [ c0 c0 3 cu c0 3 ( pe pt ) ( cu + su ) s0 ] = P0 (57) (b) st = su, sc < s0, c0 < c, max < cu,

By solving, percentage of steel for balanced section is obtained (c) st = su, s0 < sc < su, c, max < c0
as:
(d) st = su, s0 < sc < su, c, max < cu (64)
( 3 cu c0 ) c0 P0
pt, bal = pc + -------------------------------
- --------------------------
- (58) As the strain in tensile steel reaches its ultimate value (tensile
3 ( cu su ) s0 b ( D d ) s0
failure), in all the four cases mentioned above, equation for
where, P0 is the axial force (P0 > 0 if it is compression). For the
computing the depth of neutral axis, as function of ultimate
known cross section with fixed percentage of compression
curvature, will remain unchanged and is given by:
reinforcement, Eq. (58) gives the percentage of steel for balanced
section. In the similar manner, percentage of compression rein- (a d) su
xc = D d -----
- (65)
forcement for a balanced section, by fixing pt, can be obtained by u
inverting the relationship given in Eqs. (56) and (58) for respec-
Axial force and bending moment in the cross section at
tive axial force conditions.
collapse, for case (a) are given by:
xc
2.4 Ultimate Bending Moment-curvature Relationship
Pu = b c [ c ( y ) ]dy s0 Ast + sc Asc (66)
Study in this section is limited to RC sections imposed with 0
tension failure as the compression and balanced failures do not xc
D D
have any practical significance in the displacement-based design Mu = b c [ c ( y ) ] ---- y dy + ( s0 Ast + sc Asc ) ---- d (67)
2 2
approach, in particular. Let us consider two possible cases: i) 0

neutral axis position assumes negative values; and ii) neutral axis By substituting the Eq. (65) in Eq. (66) we get:
position assumes positive values.
J0 + J1 u + J2 u + J3 u = 0
2 3
(68)
2.4.1 Neutral Axis Position Assuming Negative Values where the constants Ji (for i=0 to 3) are given by:
By imposing the conditions: xc = 0 & = su ( D d ) and solv-
b su ( 3 c0 + su ) c0
2
ing Eq. (8) respect to pt , for a specified range of tension steel per- J0 = -----------------------------------------
-
3 c0
2
centage, pt < ( Pu + bdEs su ) ( b ( d D ) s0 ) , depth of neutral axis is
Pu c0 + b ( d D ) [ ( Es pc c0 + c0( 2 c0 + su ) ) su + pt s0 c0 ]
2 2 2
given by:
J1 = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-

2
c0
su
xc = D d -----
- x c < 0 (59)
u 2 2 ( d D ) ( c0 + su ) c0
2
J2 = b ( D + 2d 3dD )Es pc + -----------------------------------------------
-
At collapse, the equilibrium equations become: 2
c0
b ( d D ) c0
3
Pu = s0 Ast + sc Asc = b ( d D ) [ pt s0 + Es pc ( d x c ) u ] (60)
J3 = ----------------------------
- (69)
3 c0
2
D
Mu = ( s0 Ast + sc Asc ) ---- d
2 By solving Eq. (68), the real root (in this case, the third root)
b ( D 2d ) gives the ultimate curvature as:
= ----------------------- ( D d ) [ pt s0 + Es pc ( xc d ) u ] (61)
2 2
1 ( 2.5198 4.3645i ) ( J 3J J )
(ua) = ---------- 4J2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
2 1 3
- ( 1.5874 + 2.7495i )
By solving Eq. (60) with respect to u, we obtain the ultimate 12J3
curvature, as reported below: (70)
Pu + b ( D d ) [ s0 pt + Es pc su ] where,
u = -------------------------------------------------------------------
2 2
- (62)
bEs pc ( D + 2d 3dD ) = [ 2 J32 + 9J1 J2 J3 27J23 J0
By substituting Eq. (62) in Eq. (61), ultimate bending moment
2 3 3 2 2 13
can be determined as: + 4 ( J2 3J1 J3 ) + ( 2J2 9J1 J2 J3 + 27J3 J0 ) ] (71)
D 2d By substituting Eq. (70) in Eq. (67), ultimate moment is given
Mu = --------------- [ Pu + 2b ( D d )pt s0 ] (63)
2 by:
It may be noted that the ultimate bending moment in this case (a) ( a)
(a) b M1 M2
is similar to one given by Eq. (29) for elastic range. Mu = --------2- -------- - + M(3a) + M(4a) (ua) + M(5a) (ua)2
- + --------
( a )2
(72)
2 c0 u (ua)
2.4.2 Neutral Axis Position Assuming Positive Values where the super-script (a) stands for the case (a); the constants of
Under this condition at collapse, four different cases of tension Eq. (72) are given by:
failure of RC sections are possible, namely:
(a) su ( 4 c0 + su ) c0 (a) ( 2d D ) su ( 3 c0 + su ) c0
3 2
-, M2 = ----------------------------------------------------------- ,
M1 = --------------------------------------
(a) st = su, sc < s0, c, max < c0, 6 3

Vol. 15, No. 1 / January 2011 137

 Srinivasan Chandrasekaran, Luciano Nunziante, Giorgio Serino, and Federico Carannante

(a)
M3 = ( D d ) [ ( 2d D )Es pc su c0 d su W0 + W1 u + W2 u + W3 u = 0
2 2 3
(83)
( 2 c0 + su ) c0 + ( D 2d )p s0 ] ,
2
t c0 where, the constants Wi=0,1,2,3 are given by:
( D d ) [ 3 ( D 2d ) E p + ( d D ) ( 2d + D ) ( c0 + su ) c0 ]
2 2
Pu c0 + b ( d D ) [ ( 2 c0 + su ) c0 su + ( pt pc ) s0 c0 ]
2 2
(a) s c c0
-,
M4 = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ W1 = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
3 2
c0
( d D ) ( D + d ) c0
3
(a)
b ( d D ) c0 ( c0 + su )
2
M5 = ------------------------------------------
- (73)
6 - , W 0 = J 0, W 3 = J 3
W2 = -------------------------------------------------- (84)
2
c0
Axial force and bending moment in the cross section at collapse,
By solving Eq. (83), the real root (in this case, it is the third
for case (b) are given by:
root) gives the ultimate curvature as:
xc
Pu = b c [ c ( y ) ]dy Ast s0 + Asc sc + qb c0 (74) 1
q
(uc) = -------------
12W3
x
c
D D qb ( 2.5198 4.3645i ) ( W2 3W1 W3 )
2

Mu = b c [ c ( y ) ] ---- y dy + ( Ast s0 + Asc sc ) ---- d + ------------c0- ( D q ) - ( 1.5874 + 2.7495i )

4W2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 2 2
q
(85)
(75)
where,
By substituting the Eq. (65) in the (74), we get:
= [ 2W32 + 9W1 W2 W3 27W23 W0 +
Q0 + Q1 u + Q2 u = 0
2
(76)
2 3 3 2 2 13
where, the constants Qi=0,1,2 are given by: 4 ( W2 3W1 W3 ) + ( 2W2 9W1 W2 W3 + 27W3 W0 ) ] (86)

b c0 ( c0 + 3 su ) By substituting Eq. (85) in Eq. (81), ultimate moment is ob-

Q0 = -----------------------------------
- tained as:
3
Q1 = b ( D d ) ( c0 Es pc su + s0 pt ) pu , ( c) b M1 M2
( c) (c)
Mu = --------
- -------- - + M(3c) + M(4c) (uc) + M(5c) (uc)2
- + --------
( c )2
(87)
2 2 2 c0 u
2
(uc)
Q2 = bEs Pc ( D + 2d 3dD ) (77)
where,
By solving Eq. (76), the first root of the quadratic, representing
( c)
M3 = d ( d D ) su c0 ( 2 c0 + su ) + ( D + 2d 3dD ) ( pc + pt ) s0 c0 ,
2 2 2
the ultimate curvature is given as:
( d D ) ( 2d + D ) ( c0 + su ) c0
2 2
Q + Q 4Q Q ( c)
(ub) = --------------------------------------------
1 1 0 2
- (78) M4 = -------------------------------------------------------------------- (88)
2Q2 3
( c) (a) ( c) ( a) (c) (a)
By substituting Eq. (78) in Eq. (75), ultimate moment is ob- M1 = M1 , M2 = M2 , M5 = M5
tained as:
Axial force and bending moment in the cross section at
(b) (b)
(b) b M M (b) (b) (b ) collapse, for case (d), are given by:
Mu = --- --------- + --------- + M3 + M4 u
1
( b )2
2
(b)
(79)
2 u u xc
Pu = b c [ c ( y ) ]dy + ( Asc Ast ) s0 + qb c0 (89)
where, q

( c0 + 4 c0 su + 6 su ) c0
2 2 xc
D D qb
(b)
M1 = ----------------------------------------------------- , Mu = b c [ c ( y ) ] ---- y dy + ( A st + Asc ) s0 ---- d + ------------c0- ( D q )
6 q
2 2 2
(b) ( D 2d ) ( c0 + 3 su ) c0
M2 = ---------------------------------------------------- (90)
3
(b) By substituting the Eq. (65) in Eq. (89) and solving, the ulti-
M3 = ( D d ) [ d ( 2Es pc su + c0 2pt s0 ) + D ( pt s0 Es pc su ) ]
mate curvature is obtained as:
(b) 2
M4 = ( D d ) ( D 2d ) Es pc (80)
bc0 ( c0 + 3 su )
(ud) = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- (91)
Axial force and bending moment in the cross section at 3 [ b ( D d ) ( c0 + s0 ( pc pt ) Pu ) ]
collapse, for case (c) are given by:
By substituting Eq. (91) in Eq. (90), ultimate bending moment
xc
is obtained as:
Pu = b c [ c ( y ) ]dy + s0 ( Asc Ast ) (81)
0 b c0 s0
( d)
- 6 ( D d ) d + ( D 2d ) ( pc + pt ) ------
Mu = --------- -
xc
D D 12 c0
Mu = b c [ c ( y ) ] ---- y dy + ( Ast + Asc ) s0 ---- d (82)
2 2
2 ( D 2d ) ( c0 + 3 su ) c0 + 4 c0 su + 6ssu
0 2 2
+ -----------------------------------------------
( IV )
- ----------------------------------------
( IV )2
- (92)
By substituting the Eq. (65) in Eq. (81), we get: u u

138 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering

 Curvature Ductility of RC Sections Based on Eurocode: Analytical Procedure

For the condition of ( D < d ( 2 c0 s0 + su ) ) ( c0 s0 ) , ultimate zones whose percentage is varied to study their influence on the
moment, derived above takes the following form: curvature ductility. Concrete with compressive cube strength of
(a) ( 1)
30 N/mm2 and steel with yield strength of 415 N/mm2 are con-
Mu if pt < pt sidered. Fig. 3 shows the variation of elastic moment with tension

Mu = M(ub) if
( 1)
pt < pt < pt
(2)
(93) reinforcement for a constant compression reinforcement con-
(d) ( 2) sisting 422. It is seen from the figure that the limit elastic
Mu if p < pt
t
moment increases linearly for the case of strain in tensile steel
where, reaches yield limit while strain in concrete is within elastic limit
( 1) 3 ( c0 + su ) [ Pu + bEs pc ( d ( 2 c0 + su ) D c0 ) ] + 2b ( d D ) c0 c0 (see the curve governed by Eqs. (29 & 35)). For other cases
pt = --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ,
3b ( d D ) ( c0 + su ) s0 namely: i) strain in compression steel reaches elastic limit (see
( 2)
pt = the curve governed by Eq. (42); as well as ii) crushing failure
3 ( c0 + su ) [ Pu +b ( d D )Es pc s0 ] + bc0 [ D ( c0 3s0 )+d ( 3 s0 2 c0 3 su ) ]
where strain in extreme fibre in concrete reaches elastic limit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (see the curve governed by Eq. 48), the influence of percentage
3b ( d D) ( s0 + su ) s0
(94) of tension reinforcement on the limit elastic moment is marginal;
though there is a sharp rise for lower percentage of reinforce-
Percentage of tension reinforcements are determined by im- ments, this increase becomes marginal for higher percentage
posing the conditions: i) pt(1) is determined by imposing st = su, values. The point of intersection of moment profiles governed by
c,max = c0 and solving Eq. (67) with respect to pt ; as well as ii) Eqs. (29) and (35) with that of Eq. (42) give the limit value of per-
pt(2) is determined by imposing the st = su, sc = s0 and solving centage of tensile reinforcement (pt,elastic); percentage of tensile
Eq. (75) with respect to pt . steel reinforcement, lesser than this value results in yielding of
For the other condition, namely D > ( d( 2 c0 s0 + cu ) ) c0 s0 , tensile steel while greater values result in yielding of compres-
ultimate moment now takes a different form as give below: sion steel. The point of intersection of moment profiles governed
(a) ( 3) by Eqs. (29) and (35) with that of Eq. (48) is not of significant im-
Mu if pt < pt
portance as the latter results in crushing failure of concrete. It is
Mu = M(uc) if
(3)
pt < pt < pt
(4)
(95) evident that percentage of tensile reinforcement influences limit
(d)
Mu if
( 4)
p < pt
t
elastic moment considerably in case of ductile failure only. It
may be noted that Fig. 3 plots the moment variation based on the
where, same governing equations used subsequently for estimating mo-
3Pu ( c0 + su ) + 2b ( d D ) c0 c0 ment-curvature relationship. It can be seen from the figure that
(3)
pt = pc + ------------------------------------------------------------------------
- limit elastic moment is given by the minimum of the four values
3b ( d D ) ( c0 + su ) s0
given by the Eqs. (29), (35), (42) and (48), respectively. The trace
(4) Pu
Pt = Pc + --------------------------
- of the point along the hatched line gives the minimum limit elastic
b ( d D ) s0
moment, thus obtained. Fig. 4 shows the moment-curvature plots
[ D s0 + d ( su s0 ) ] [ D ( c0 3 s0 ) + d ( 6 c0 s0 + su ) ] c0
2
for the RC section reinforced with 422 on tension face, but
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
3 c0 ( s0 + su ) ( D 2d ) ( d D ) s0
2 2
varying the compression steel. It can be seen from the figure that
for a fixed percentage of tensile reinforcement, influence of varia-
(96)
Percentage of tension reinforcements are determined by im-
posing the conditions: i) pt(3) is determined by imposing the st
= su, c,max = c0 and solving Eq. (82) with respect to pt ; and ii)
pt(4) is determined by imposing the st = su, sc = s0 and solving
(90) respect to pt.
For the condition:
D = ( d ( 2 c0 s0 + su ) ) c0 s0 (97)
ultimate moment is given by:
(a) *
Mu if pt < pt * (1) ( 2) (3) ( 4)
Mu = (a) *
pt = pt = pt = pt = pt (98)
Mu if P < Pt t

3. Numerical Studies and Discussions

An example RC section of 300 500 is considered for the Fig. 3. Variation of Elastic Moment with Percentage of Tensile
study. The section is reinforced on both tension and compression Steel Reinforcement Relationship

Vol. 15, No. 1 / January 2011 139

 Srinivasan Chandrasekaran, Luciano Nunziante, Giorgio Serino, and Federico Carannante

for varying the axial forces, is also studied. Two cases are consi-
dered namely: i) by varying steel percentage in tension, with
422 on compression side; as well as ii) by varying the percen-
tage of compression reinforcement, with 422 on tension side.
Figs. 6 and 7 show the influence of tensile and compression rein-
forcements on curvature ductility, respectively. It is seen from Fig.
6 that plastic softening behaviour is observed in the section under
large curvature amplitudes. This may be attributed to the expect-
ed failure pattern (local collapse mechanism) of the structural
members of building frames located in seismic areas. Larger
ductility ratios for reduced tensile reinforcement prompt the design
of members initiating ductile failure, as better ones. However,
Fig. 4. Variation of Moment-curvature with Percentage of Com- tensile reinforcement closer to pt,bal will result in more curvature
pression Reinforcement
ductility as there is a marginal reduction seen due to the kink in
the curve for (lesser) values closer to pt,bal. It can be seen from
tion of compression reinforcement on moment-curvature is only Fig. 7 that maximum curvature ductility is obtained for com-
marginal. Also, there exist at least one critical value of percent- pression reinforcement equals pc,bal , when the section is subjected
age of both tensile and compression reinforcement, which reduces to axial compressive force. However, for tensile axial forces,
the curvature ductility to the minimum. The proposed analytical percentage of compression steel as same as that of tension steel
expressions are capable of tracing this critical value, so that it can (pc=pt), gives the maximum curvature ductility. It can be sum-
be avoided for a successful design of the section.
The effect of axial force on moment-curvature is also studied
by subjecting the RC section reinforced with 422, both on
compression and tension sides. The section is subjected to com-
pressive axial force only as the tensile force limits the curvature
and cannot be helpful in predicting the desired behaviour. Fig. 5
shows the moment-curvature for different axial forces consi-
dered. For all the four cases shown in the figure, there is a mar-
ginal increase in ultimate moment with respect to their corres-
ponding limit elastic moment. It is seen that the variation in the
magnitude of axial force does not influence the ductility ratio in
comparison to their influence on limit elastic and ultimate mo-
ments, as well, for the numerical cases examined. However, higher
axial forces tend to reduce the curvature ductility. The critical
value of axial force, beyond which, a reduction is caused in cur- Fig. 6. Variation of Curvature Ductility with Percentage of Tensile
vature ductility, can also be obtained from the proposed analyti- Steel Reinforcement
cal hypothesis. The moment-curvatures seen in the figure, shows
linear response in elastic range and hardening-like response in
elasto-plastic range.
Influence of percentage of reinforcing steel on ductility ratio,

Fig. 7. Variation of Curvature Ductility with Percentage of Com-

Fig. 5. Moment-curvature Relationship for Different Axial Forces pression Steel Reinforcement

140 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering

 Curvature Ductility of RC Sections Based on Eurocode: Analytical Procedure

marized that percentage of tension reinforcement influences cur-
vature ductility to a larger extent and therefore demands good
ductile detailing in the members of building frames located in
seismic areas. Recent development in codes (see, for example,
IS:13920, 2003) also insist the same for a safe distribution of
earthquake forces without complete collapse of the building.
Spread sheet program is used to estimate the moment-cur-
vature by iteration, after simplifying the complexities involved in
such estimate. The values are estimated in two ranges, namely i)
elastic; and ii) elasto-plastic, separately. Tables 1 and 2 show the
values of the points traced along the M- curve, obtained
numerically, for two cases namely: i) no axial force; and ii) axial
force of 200 kN, respectively. The shaded rows show the values
at limit elastic and ultimate states, in order, respectively. Steps
involved in the numerical procedure are now discussed. Firstly,
to predict the moment-curvature relationship in elastic range,
steps followed are namely: i) an arbitrary value is assumed for
the limit elastic curvature; ii) fixing axial force to the desired
value, depth of neutral axis is determined. The strains in con-
crete, compressive and tensile steel are examined for their elastic
limit values. Value of limit elastic curvature is now changed until
strain in one of the above, reach their elastic limit. For example,
as seen in Table 1, for the limit elastic curvature of 0.005780 rad/
m, strain in tensile steel reaches its elastic limit (0.00172), for
zero axial force, causing a tensile failure in this case. Fixing this
value as the limit elastic curvature and by sub-dividing it equally,
moment-curvature values for the first five rows are now obtained
by repeating the above steps. Secondly, for estimating the values
in elasto-plastic range, following steps are adopted: i) an arbitr-
ary value is now assumed for the limit ultimate curvature; ii)
fixing axial force to the desired value, depth of neutral axis is
now determined. The strains in concrete, compressive and tensile
steel are further examined for their ultimate limits. Curvature
value is changed until strain in one of the above, reach their
ultimate limit. For example, as seen in Table 1, for the ultimate
curvature of 0.025276 rad/m, strain in tensile steel reaches its
ultimate limit (0.01), for zero axial force, causing a tensile
failure. Fixing this value as the ultimate curvature and by sub-
dividing thisvalue equally, moment-curvature values in the elasto-
plastic range are now obtained by repeating the above steps.
Based on the results obtained, moment-curvature relationship of
the RC section, reinforced with 422, both in tension and com-
pression sides, is now plotted for different axial loads (only
compressive). The curves are compared with those obtained by
using the proposed analytical expressions. Fig. 8 shows the
comparison of the curves obtained by employing both numerical

Table 1. Moment-curvature Relationship of RC Section 300500 for No Axial Force (pt = 1.08%, pc = 1.08%, Rck = 30 N/mm2, fy = 415 N/
mm2)
P xc
c,max sc st c,max sc st q M
(kN) (rad/m) (m) (kN/sq.m) (kN/sq.m) (kN/sq.m) (m) (kN-m)
0.00 0.000010 0.165 0.00000 0.000001 0.00000 22 284 640 0.00 0.41
0.00 0.001166 0.167 0.00019 0.000159 0.00035 2444 33437 74301 0.00 48.07
0.00 0.002322 0.168 0.00039 0.000320 0.00070 4657 67283 147269 0.00 95.20
0.00 0.003478 0.169 0.00059 0.000485 0.00105 6648 101874 219493 0.00 141.76
0.00 0.004634 0.171 0.00079 0.000654 0.00139 8408 137269 290913 0.00 187.72
0.00 0.005780 0.173 0.00100 0.000825 0.00172 9909 173216 360856 0.00 232.62
0.00 0.007080 0.153 0.00108 0.000872 0.00224 10457 183156 360870 0.00 234.86
0.00 0.008379 0.139 0.00116 0.000911 0.00278 10906 191230 360870 0.00 236.41
0.00 0.009679 0.127 0.00123 0.000943 0.00332 11283 197947 360870 0.00 237.55
0.00 0.010979 0.118 0.00130 0.000970 0.00386 11603 203635 360870 0.00 238.40
0.00 0.012279 0.111 0.00136 0.000993 0.00441 11879 208523 360870 0.00 239.07
0.00 0.013578 0.105 0.00142 0.001013 0.00496 12118 212773 360870 0.00 239.61
0.00 0.014878 0.099 0.00148 0.001031 0.00552 12325 216505 360870 0.00 240.04
0.00 0.016178 0.095 0.00153 0.001047 0.00607 12504 219811 360870 0.00 240.40
0.00 0.017478 0.091 0.00159 0.001061 0.00663 12659 222762 360870 0.00 240.69
0.00 0.018777 0.087 0.00164 0.001073 0.00719 12792 225415 360870 0.00 240.95
0.00 0.020077 0.084 0.00169 0.001085 0.00775 12904 227814 360870 0.00 241.16
0.00 0.021377 0.081 0.00174 0.001095 0.00831 12999 229997 360870 0.00 241.34
0.00 0.022677 0.079 0.00179 0.001105 0.00887 13075 231994 360870 0.00 241.50
0.00 0.023976 0.076 0.00183 0.001113 0.00944 13136 233829 360870 0.00 241.64
0.00 0.025276 0.074 0.00188 0.001122 0.01000 13180 235525 360870 0.00 241.77

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 Srinivasan Chandrasekaran, Luciano Nunziante, Giorgio Serino, and Federico Carannante

Table 2. Moment-curvature Relationship of RC Section 300500 for 200 kN Axial Force (pt = 1.08%, pc = 1.08%, Rck = 30 N/mm2, fy = 415
N/mm2)
P xc
c,max sc st c,max sc st q M
(kN) (rad/m) (m) (kN/sq.m) (kN/sq.m) (kN/sq.m) (m) (kN-m)
200.00 0.000010 7.990 0.00008 0.000080 -0.00008 1036 16715 -15791 0.00 0.71
200.00 0.001286 0.274 0.00035 0.000314 0.00025 4250 65892 52935 0.00 68.08
200.00 0.002562 0.227 0.00058 0.000505 0.00062 6582 106147 130582 0.00 119.98
200.00 0.003838 0.211 0.00081 0.000696 0.00099 8557 146245 208386 0.00 170.62
200.00 0.005114 0.204 0.00104 0.000891 0.00136 10208 187085 285449 0.00 220.32
200.00 0.006380 0.201 0.00128 0.001089 0.00172 11515 228645 360867 0.00 268.70
200.00 0.007708 0.180 0.00139 0.001154 0.00224 11979 242397 360870 0.00 272.23
200.00 0.009036 0.164 0.00148 0.001209 0.00277 12335 253949 360870 0.00 274.77
200.00 0.010364 0.151 0.00157 0.001256 0.00330 12609 263846 360870 0.00 276.67
200.00 0.011692 0.141 0.00165 0.001297 0.00385 12819 272456 360870 0.00 278.14
200.00 0.013020 0.132 0.00172 0.001334 0.00440 12976 280040 360870 0.00 279.31
200.00 0.014348 0.125 0.00180 0.001366 0.00495 13091 286791 360870 0.00 280.25
200.00 0.015676 0.119 0.00186 0.001395 0.00550 13168 292853 360870 0.00 281.03
200.00 0.017004 0.114 0.00193 0.001421 0.00606 13212 298340 360870 0.00 281.67
200.00 0.018332 0.109 0.00199 0.001444 0.00662 13228 303340 360870 0.00 282.21
200.00 0.019660 0.105 0.00206 0.001466 0.00718 13228 307925 360870 0.00 282.67
200.00 0.020988 0.101 0.00212 0.001486 0.00775 13228 312145 360870 0.01 283.07
200.00 0.022316 0.097 0.00217 0.001505 0.00831 13228 316042 360870 0.01 283.41
200.00 0.023644 0.094 0.00223 0.001522 0.00888 13228 319653 360870 0.01 283.71
200.00 0.024972 0.092 0.00229 0.001538 0.00945 13228 323007 360870 0.01 283.97
200.00 0.026300 0.089 0.00234 0.001553 0.01002 13228 326131 360870 0.01 284.21

and analytical procedures. By comparing, it can be seen that

there is practically no difference between the curves in the elastic
range, whereas there exist a marginal difference in the plastic
range. However, both the procedures estimate the same ultimate
curvature and the ultimate moments as well. Also the curvature
ductility ratio obtained by both the procedures, remains same.
With regards to their close agreement, the proposed closed form
expressions for moment-curvature relationship, accounting for
nonlinear characteristics of constitutive materials according to
Euro code, are thus qualified for using them in seismic design
and structural assessments as well.
It can be inferred from the above discussions that detailed trace
of moment-curvature relationship is inevitable for successful
seismic design of structures. The relationship is however very
complex due to many factors namely: i) constitutive materials
nonlinear response; ii) magnitude of axial load and their nature; Fig. 8. Comparison of Moment-curvature by Analytical and Numeri-
cal Procedures
as well as iii) cross sectional properties and percentage of rein-
forcement (tensile steel, in particular). The numerical studies
conducted lead to useful design guidelines of multi-storey RC strong column-weak beam design concept) first and enabling
buildings. The upper floor elements (beams, in particular) shall effective redistribution of moments, resulting in formation of
be designed to have ductile failure, which in turn shall permit plastic hinges at lower floors, subsequently. On the contrary, a
large curvature ductility. This, in fact, helps the formation of column member, usually subjected to larger axial force, shall be
plastic hinges at upper floors (on beams, in particular with a designed without much increase in compression reinforcement,

142 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering

 Curvature Ductility of RC Sections Based on Eurocode: Analytical Procedure
as this does not help to improve its curvature ductility.
4. Conclusions
In this paper, a new analytical procedure for estimating curva-
ture ductility of RC sections is proposed. The purpose is to esti-
mate moment-curvature relationship under service loads, in a
simpler closed form manner. Analytical expressions for moment-
curvature relationship of RC sections, accounting for nonlinear
characteristics of constitutive materials according to Eurocode,
are proposed in elastic and elasto-plastic ranges as well. Percent-
age of tension reinforcement influences curvature ductility to a
larger extent. There exist at least one critical value of percentage
of both tensile and compression reinforcements, which reduces
the curvature ductility to the minimum. The proposed analytical
expressions are capable of tracing this critical value, so that it can
be avoided for a successful design of the section. Tensile rein-
forcement, closer to pt,bal, will result in more curvature ductility
as there is a marginal reduction seen due to the kink in the curve
for (lesser) values closer to pt,bal. Maximum curvature ductility is
obtained for compression reinforcement equals pc,bal, when the
section is subjected to axial compressive forces; for tensile axial
forces, percentage of compression steel as same as that of tension
steel (pc=pt), gives the maximum curvature ductility.
The spread sheet program used to estimate moment-curvature
relationship simplifies the complexities involved in such estimate,
thus encouraging the designers and researchers to use it instantly
and with confidence. With regards to their close agreement with
the analytical procedure, the proposed expressions for moment-
curvature estimate are thus qualified for using them in design and
structural assessments as well. Avoiding somewhat tedious hand
calculations and approximations required in conventional iterative
design procedures, the proposed method avoids errors and po-
tentially unsafe design. It is felt that enough experimental evidence
is not available to be more conclusive on the topic, but the pro-
posed closed form solutions of the unknown curvature ductility
ratios is confident of giving reliable and safe estimate of the said
parameter. With due consideration to the increasing necessity of
structural assessment of existing buildings under seismic loads,
the proposed expressions of moment-curvature relationship shall
become an integral input while employing nonlinear static pro-
cedures.
Notations
Asc : Area of compression reinforcement (mm2)
Ast : Area of tension reinforcement (mm2)
b : Width of the beam (mm)
D : Overall depth of the beam (mm)
d : Effective cover (mm)
Es : Modulus of elasticity in steel (N/mm2)
M : Bending moment (N-m)
Me : Elastic bending moment (N-m)
ME : Limit elastic bending moment (N-m)
Vol. 15, No. 1 / January 2011
Mu : Ultimate bending moment (N-m)
P : Axial load (N)
pc : Percentage of compression reinforcement
Pe : Elastic axial load (N)
PE : Limit elastic axial load (N)
pt : Percentage of tensile reinforcement
Pu : Ultimate axial load (N)
q : Depth of plastic kernel of concrete (mm)
Rck : Compressive cube strength of concrete (30 N/mm2)
xc : Depth of neutral axis measure from extreme compression
fibre (mm)
c : Strain in generic fibre of concrete
c,max : Maximum strain in concrete
c0 : Elastic limit strain in concrete
cu : Ultimate limit strain in concrete
s0 : Elastic limit strain in reinforcement
sc : Strain in compression reinforcement
st : Strain in tensile reinforcement
su : Ultimate limit strain in reinforcement
: Curvature (rad/m)
0 : Curvature for xc = 0 (rad/m)
e : Elastic curvature (rad/m)
E : Limit elastic curvature (rad/m)
u : Ultimate curvature (rad/m)
c : Partial safety factor for concrete
s : Partial safety factor for steel
: Curvature ductility ratio = u/E
c : Stress in generic fibre of concrete (N/mm2)
c,max : Maximum stress in concrete (N/mm2)
c0 : Design ultimate stress in concrete in compression (N/
mm2)
s0 : Design ultimate stress in steel (N/mm2)
sc : Stress in compression reinforcement (N/mm2)
st : Stress in tensile reinforcement (N/mm2)
y : Yield strength of steel (415 N/mm2)
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