Collapse of a nonductile concrete frame: Shaking table tests

Post-earthquake reconnaissance has reported the vulnerability of older reinforced concrete (RC) columns lacking details for ductile response. Research was undertaken to investigate the full-range structural hysteretic behavior of older RC columns. A two-dimensional specimen frame, composed of nonductile and ductile columns to allow for load redistribution, was subjected to a unidirectional base motion on a shaking table until global collapse was observed. The test demonstrates two types of column failure, including flexure-shear and pure flexural failure. Test data are compared with various simplified assessment models commonly used by practicing engineers and researchers to identify older buildings that are at high risk of structural collapse during severe earthquake events. Comparison suggests that ASCE/SEI 41-06 produces very conservative estimates on load–deformation relations of flexure-shear columns, while the recently proposed ASCE/SEI 41-06 update imposes significant modifications on the predictive curve, so that improved accuracy has been achieved. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[1]  R. Park,et al.  Seismic Load Tests on Interior and Exterior Beam-Column Joints with Substandard Reinforcing Details , 2000 .

[2]  Jack P. Moehle,et al.  Idealized backbone model for existing reinforced concrete columns and comparisons with FEMA 356 criteria , 2006 .

[3]  Jack P. Moehle,et al.  Update to ASCE/SEI 41 Concrete Provisions , 2007 .

[4]  Kenneth J. Elwood,et al.  Collapse of a nonductile concrete frame: Evaluation of analytical models , 2009 .

[5]  Shunsuke Otani.  RC Building Damage Statistics and SDF Response with Design Seismic Forces , 1999 .

[6]  W. D. Mark,et al.  Random Vibration in Mechanical Systems , 1963 .

[7]  Jack P. Moehle,et al.  Dynamic collapse analysis for a reinforced concrete frame sustaining shear and axial failures , 2008 .

[8]  Jack P. Moehle,et al.  Axial Capacity Model for Shear-Damaged Columns , 2005 .

[9]  Jack P. Moehle,et al.  Seismic Evaluation of Existing Reinforced Concrete Building Columns , 1996 .

[10]  Terje Haukaas,et al.  Classification and Seismic Safety Evaluation of Existing Reinforced Concrete Columns , 2007 .

[11]  J. Moehle,et al.  Seismic Tests of Concrete Columns with Light Transverse Reinforcement , 2006 .

[12]  M. Fardis,et al.  Deformations of Reinforced Concrete Members at Yielding and Ultimate , 2001 .

[13]  J. Mander,et al.  Theoretical stress strain model for confined concrete , 1988 .

[14]  Jack P. Moehle,et al.  Drift Capacity of Reinforced Concrete Columns with Light Transverse Reinforcement , 2005 .