Reinforced concrete (RC) columns are subjected to eccentric vertical
compression forces in general, and their failure is sudden and drastic,
which can be a result of buckling, material failure, or a combination of
both due to the interaction between thematerial and geometric nonlinearities.
However, in most cases, a considerable portion of the total load
acting on RC columns can be classified as sustained compression load.
When this load is combined with the normal construction inaccuracies
and load eccentricities, the column undergoes increasing out-of-plane
deflection with time due to creep. This may consequently lead to loss
of stability (creep buckling) under a sustained load that is significantly
smaller than the short-term load carrying capacity. However, creep
may not necessarily lead to buckling failure, but it may lead to premature
creep rupture failures of the concrete or may reduce the residual
strength of the column due to the increased internal stresses and strains
with time.