ABSTRACT
Axially loaded members are classified as those that carry their load primarily in tension or compression. Since tension members are not commonly used in concrete structures (remember concrete is weak in tension), this chapter deals for the most part with the design of compression members. The majority of compression/tension members carry a portion of their load in bending. This may be due to the load not being applied at the centroid of the member (i.e. load is applied eccentrically), as illustrated in Fig. 10.1(a). Alternatively, bending moments in a compression member may result from unbalanced moments in the members connected to its ends, as illustrated in Fig. 10.1(c). The result of such bending moments in axially loaded members is to reduce the range of axial force that the member can safely carry. For this reason, it is essential that the effects of bending in axially loaded members are considered. In this chapter, one-dimensional compression members are often referred to as columns and two-dimensional members as walls. Strictly speaking, a column is a particular type of compression member which is vertical. However, the term ‘column’ is used loosely to describe all one-dimensional compression members, irrespective of their orientation.
