Abstract
In this research, the reliability level of reinforced concrete short column designed according to Egyptian code was investigated. The ultimate limit-state design method considering material strength-reduction factors and partial factors for load combinations given in the Egyptian code was used to obtain the characteristic values of short column capacity. Component reliability program, COMREL V8.1, was used to obtain the reliability index based on first order reliability method. The probabilistic models of basic variables were based on the European probabilistic model code. The reliability index of short column was computed at different reinforcement ratios and compared to the reliability obtained when using Euro code (1992-2004) and ACI code in design of the same member. The sensitivity of the reliability index for different parameters such as concrete and steel strengths and their coefficients of variation and standard deviation of permanent actions, were investigated. The results showed that the design of short column according to the Egyptian code achieved sufficient level of reliability higher than the other compared international codes. Besides, the reliability index is sensitive to the coefficient of variation of reinforcement steel and permanent action.
Key words: Reliability, ultimate limit state design, probabilistic variables.
