Using damage mechanics to model a four story RC framed structure submitted to earthquake loading

A simplified model is proposed to simulate the nonlinear behavior of a four-story full-scale reinforced concrete framed structure subjected to severe dynamic loading. The structure has been tested pseudodynamically in the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA) at the Joint Research Center of the European Commission. The proposed model uses 2D multi layered Bernoulli beam elements and uniaxial constitutive laws based on damage mechanics and plasticity. Comparison with the experimental results shows the efficiency of the approach.