STRESS-STRAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF CONFINED CONCRETE IN COLUMN HINGES

Eighteen compression tests were carried out on concrete hinges to dete rmine the complete stress-strain response of the confined concrete in the hinges. These rests, together with an analytical study, enabled th e development of relationships for the confined strength and So, rite peak strain of concrete in one-way and two-way hinges. Expressions are presented for the confined strengths and rite corresponding strains ( ''peak'' strains) of the hinge region concretes, based oil the geometr y of the hinge and the unconfined concrete compressive strength. A met hod is also presented to predict the complete stress-strain responses of confined concrete in hinges.