Finite Element Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Column Under Lateral Load

To serve its purpose a structure must be safe against collapse and serviceable in use. Serviceability requires that deflections be adequately small to keep the cracks within tolerable limits. Although the widely followed ACI Code suggests a detailed method of deflection calculation, it often cannot exactly perceive the actual behavior of a structure. For this purpose, finite element analysis, using ANSYS, was performed. The research aimed of developing a program for the analysis of a column fixed at base and observes lateral deflection. Concept of key point, nodes, meshing and separate elements was used to model the concrete and the reinforcement. The scope of the study is limited to lateral load only applied at the midpoint at the top height in X direction. The same operation can also be performed in Y direction. The current application facilitates using random size of column with random height. But to serve the purpose of a single story, the work was done considering only one story