Seismic Response of a Three-Dimensional Asymmetric Multi-Storey Reinforced Concrete Structure

Abstract

Featured Application: Authors are encouraged to provide a concise description of the specific application or a potential application of the work. This section is not mandatory.Abstract: This study discusses the seismic behavior of a geometrically asymmetric three-storey reinforced concrete (RC) building, considering torsional effect and material nonlinearity. The building is a test structure that was used for seismic performance evaluation in the SMART 2013 (Seismic design and best-estimate Methods Assessment for Reinforced concrete buildings subjected to Torsion and nonlinear effects) international benchmark. To begin with, nonlinear stress-strain relationships that were set up for concrete and reinforcing steel are validated by finite element local tests with a representative volume element. A modal analysis shows that the first three calculated natural frequencies are close to the ones that are obtained by modal experiments. The finite element modeling is further validated by comparing the calculated displacement and acceleration due to a low-intensity ground motion with the responses from the corresponding shaking table test. Using the validated model, a blind nonlinear seismic analysis is performed for a series of Northridge earthquakes in order to estimate the behavior of the asymmetric RC structure to high-intensity ground motions. The calculated displacement and acceleration, as well as their response spectra at various sampling points, agree well with the results of a three-dimensional benchmark shaking table test. By investigating the seismic torsional behavior of the asymmetric RC structure, it is shown that the seismic response of an asymmetric structure is larger than that of a hypothetical symmetric structure. The result indicates that a larger seismic response should be considered in the seismic design of an asymmetric structure compared to a symmetric structure with similar design conditions. Keywords: asymmetric reinforced concrete structure; SMART 2013 international benchmark; finite element model; nonlinear seismic analysis; seismic torsional behavior

A Method for Reducing of the Overall Torsion for Reinforced Concrete Multi-Storey Irregular Structures

“…In literature, there are some articles that analyse the seismic response of both symmetric and asymmetric multi-storey reinforced concrete structures [4][5][6]. Dimova and Alashki show in [4] that even the symmetric reinforced concrete structures behave under seismic loading like the irregular ones under accidental small eccentricity, and the method for the correction of the structure response is presented.…”

“…By using the finite element model of asymmetric three-storey reinforced concrete building, validated by modal experiments under low-intensity ground motion simulation, it is shown that the torsional effects are much greater for an asymmetric structure than for a symmetric structure with approximately the same design conditions, especially under high-intensity earthquakes [5].…”

Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis Formulation for Shear in Reinforced Concrete Beams

“…The modern seismic design provisions for reinforced concrete (RC) structures enforce ductility requirements to meet target limit states, avoiding brittle failure [1]. As a typical shear failure of an RC member is often very brittle, more accurate descriptions of shear behavior are imperative in achieving proper safety goals.…”

Seismic Performance of a New Structural Design Solution for First-Story Isolated RC Buildings with Coupled Beam-Column Connections

“…The seismic performance of frame structures has been continually investigated by researchers, mainly through developing structures with maximum energy dissipation capacity [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. In the 1950s, a new type of frame structure with a soft first story was designed by pioneers such as Le Corbusier [10] who applied the soft-first-story idea by lifting the structure off the ground.…”