Structural response of circular RC elements under nonlinear hereditary creep

This study presents an efficient methodology for analysing the stress–strain state and load-bearing capacity of circular reinforced concrete columns under short- and long-term loading conditions. The proposed approach incorporates the nonlinear hereditary creep of concrete and the elastic–plastic behaviour of reinforcement, enabling accurate predictions without the need to classify elements as “short” or “long” or to separately account for eccentricity. A discrete analogue of the nonlinear hereditary creep integral equation was formulated and solved using a robust computational algorithm, which was validated through parametric studies. The findings indicate that time-dependent creep has a pronounced influence on structural performance, leading to a noticeable reduction in load-bearing capacity and highlighting the importance of considering these effects in design and analysis. The methodology ensures engineering-level accuracy, even for large time steps, and provides a unified framework for evaluating the deformation, stability, and parameter sensitivity of reinforced concrete structures.