Yu-Chi Sung

Pushover analysis of reinforced concrete frames considering shear failure at beam-column joints

Since most current seismic capacity evaluations of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures are implemented by either static pushover analysis (PA) or dynamic time history analysis, with diverse settings of the plastic hinges (PHs) on such main structural components as columns, beams and walls, the complex behavior of shear failure at beam-column joints (BCJs) during major earthquakes is commonly neglected. This study proposes new nonlinear PA procedures that consider shear failure at BCJs and seek to assess the actual damage to RC structures. Based on the specifications of FEMA-356, a simplified joint model composed of two nonlinear cross struts placed diagonally over the location of the plastic hinge is established, allowing a sophisticated PA to be performed. To verify the validity of this method, the analytical results for the capacity curves and the failure mechanism derived from three different full-size RC frames are compared with the experimental measurements. By considering shear failure at BCJs, the proposed nonlinear analytical procedures can be used to estimate the structural behavior of RC frames, including seismic capacity and the progressive failure sequence of joints, in a precise and effective manner.

APPLICATION OF NORMALIZED SPECTRAL ACCELERATION- DISPLACEMENT (NSAD) FORMAT ON PERFORMANCE-BASED SEISMIC DESIGN OF BRIDGE STRUCTURES

For a bi-linear SDOF system subjected to a specific wave form of the ground acceleration, the unique yielding pseudo spectral acceleration and spectral displacement (Say, Sdy) together with various inelastic responses (Sai, Sdi) can be obtained via nonlinear time history analyses, respectively, by tuning the differ- ent levels of peak ground acceleration as various input ground motions. Meanwhile, the corresponding elastic responses (Sae, Sde) of a linear SDOF system with the identical mass, viscous damping and elastic stiffness as those of the bi-linear one can also be determined through linear time history analyses under the same excitations. The proposed NSAD format shown on the diagram of the elastic force ratio, Ω = Sae / Say, versus the ductility ratio, µ = (Sdi / Sdy), is a dimensionless plot of the seismic demands suitable to the engineers who are familiar with the conventional force-based design using linear structural analysis. In this paper, more than two hundred ground motions recorded in the Chi-Chi earthquake, Taiwan (1999) were chosen as the seismic inputs for the establishment of the NSAD format. The characteristics and ap- plications of the NSAD format on the performance-based seismic design of the bridge structures were discussed, and realistic procedures for the methodology were proposed. The results obtained shows that the NSAD format can help the engineers evaluate the multiple-level seismic demands not only with a well precision but also with a great convenience.

A Study on Pushover Analysis of Frame Structure Infilled with Low-Rise Reinforced Concrete Wall

This paper focused on the pushover analysis of a frame structure infilled with low-rise reinforced concrete (RC) wall. The softening model of concrete as well as the elastoplastic model of reinforcement was considered in the analysis associated with the equilibrium and compatibility conditions. Accordingly, the shear load-deformation relationship of the wall subjected to monotonic lateral load can be analyzed through the proposed analysis procedure. Based on the relationship obtained, we employed a single equivalent structural strut represented by a nonlinear axial member, acting in the diagonal direction of the frame, in simulating the infilled RC wall to simplify the framed wall model. As a result, the sequential pushover analysis of the whole structure could be performed easily and efficiently based on the realistic procedure proposed. To validate the proposed approach, reported results from the cyclic loading tests of fifteen specimens were adopted for the correlation. Based on the correlation, it is found that this study can provide an acceptable result of the pushover analysis and give an insight into progressive failure consequence of the framed wall structure. The proposed procedure simplifying the structural model helps the practical engineers get a higher efficiency while performing seismic evaluation and retrofit design of the high-redundancy frame structure with numerous infilled low-rise RC walls.