Seismic design of RC beam-column structural elements

The work described extends the range of application of a recently proposed method for designing transverse reinforcement into the earthquake-resistant design of linear reinforced-concrete structural elements. The paper initially provides a concise description of the proposed method which is followed by an experimental verification of its validity based on the results of six tests on slender beam-like reinforced-concrete elements subjected to the combined action of a constant axial force and transverse cyclic loading. Two of the specimens are designed in compliance with the earthquake-resistant design provisions of the current European codes and the remainder in accordance with the proposed method. The work is based on the comparative study of the results obtained.