Tragkapazität schlanker Druckglieder - Teil 1: Bauteilversuche und Ringversuch der nichtlinearen numerischen Prognose des Systemverhaltens

Load capacity of slender compression members. Part 1: Component tests and round robin test of the nonlinear numerical prediction of system behavior

Non-linear calculation methods allow a realistic description of the physically caused complex load-deformation behavior of reinforced concrete structures and suggest in comparison of proven approximate methods a more accurate design in both ultimate and serviceability limit states. Especially the geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis of slender compression members in the ultimate limit state is, however, still controversial because of the known inconsistencies in the design concept, which is why, despite the in EN 1992-1-1 explicitly granted ability to use non-linear methods, further research is needed. The following paper compares an a priori carried out round robin test of numerical simulations to predict the load capacity of a slender single column with an a posteriori conducted test series. The results show that the numerical calculations overestimate the load capacity in some cases significantly but, however, the widely accepted and normatively governed nominal curvature method yields in these cases to too conservative results. It will be necessary to develop universal and consistent safety formats for non-linear analysis and provide "best practice" guidelines to ensure the safe use of the now widely available software packages.