Diagonal Compression Criterion for Compression Reinforcement Ratio in HSRC Flexural Members

Limit to the tension reinforcement ratio rho in flexural high strength reinforced concrete (hsrc) members isbased on the requirement that tension failure as sufficient rotation capacity are ensured at ultimate limit state.however; the provisions for the total amount of longitudinal reinforcement ratio (rho and rho' ) are not associated withany rational derivation. in this paper, a quantitative measure to evaluate an upper limit to the compressionreinforcement ratio rho;nax offlexural hsrc members is proposed. the quantitative criterion to rho;na:r can be derivedfrom i) steel congestion and ii ) considerations that are related to the diagonal compression bearing capacity of themembers. in this paper it is shown that, when shear loading is dominant. the limit to rho' is set by the diagonalcompression criterion. parameters that affect this limit are deeply investigated and the expressions were derived fordifferent end conditions. to provide an additional tool for a better design and assessment of the flexural capacity ofhsrc members.