Direct Design Method for RC Columns and Uniformly Reinforced Shear Walls based on Canadian Standards

With a different attitude to conventional approaches and using curve and surface fitting, this paper proposes a straightforward Direct Design method for the design of eccentrically loaded RC columns and Uniformly Reinforced Shear Walls (URSWs) by which the longitudinal reinforcement ratio can be determined using the proposed equations and table. This method, which is proposed based on Canadian Standards Association (CSA 23.3-14) guidelines, is compatible with any applied axial load, moment, and cross-sectional dimensions which can decrease the graphical trial and error and be used in computer calculation and programming of RC structure. Several assessments on the effect of design parameters on the presentation manner of the proposed method have been carried out, and the validity and accuracy of the proposed method were investigated by comparison with conventional procedures. Averagely, there is a 3.48% difference between the required percentage of longitudinal reinforcement derived by the proposed method and design interaction diagrams. Also, the accuracy of all of the fitting processes carried out in this paper varies from 93.16% to 99% concerning the actual data points. It can be concluded that this method is suitable for a fast design of RC columns and URSWs with satisfying accuracy and validity.