About the Calculation of Concrete Elements Subjected To Local Compression

The problem of calculating the local compressive strength of normal‐weight concrete elements of building and engineering structures locally loaded by rigid steel plates on a small area surrounded from all sides by a non‐loaded larger area of cross‐section is presented in this paper. The results of experimental and theoretical investigations show that this stress‐strain concentration problem is rather complicated. Therefore up to now for the determination of local compressive strength of concrete elements various calculation methods have been used. The author of this paper proposed an alternative method the algorithm of which is based on the results of statistical analysis of numerous experimental data, conclusions of adequate theoretical research and propositions of SNiP, Eurocode2 and other design codes. According to this calculation method, the design local compressive strength of concrete and concrete elements depends not only on magnitude of local load concentration but also on characteristics of mechanical properties of concrete ‐axial tensile and compressive strength and relative element height (ratio of element height with less line of its cross‐section) too. The results of comparative calculations showed that experimental research data better comply with the calculated ones by the proposed method than with the obtained ones by SNiP, SNB, STR and Eurocode2 methods.