How to Design RC Pier under high lateral and tension load (CSA Standards)

[SteelMind]

My project manager informed me that since the pier is under a high lateral load, there is a check I have to do to make sure that the reinfrocement is suffecient under combined axial loading and bending conditions. However, what is confusing me is the pier is under a high tension load and I believe the interaction diagrams provided through the concrete handbook are only for combined compression and bending? Can anyone help me determine what this check is?

 

[bugbus]

The interaction diagram can be extended downward to include combined tension + bending, the region between (D) and (E) in the following pic.

It's just often not shown on interaction diagrams because the usual case is compression + bending. I believe that constructing a straight line between the pure bending and pure tension case will give you something on the safe side.