Evaluation of FEMA 356 Models for Reinforced Concrete Columns and Beam-Column Joints

This study investigates the accuracy of FEMA 356 shear and flexure modeling procedures for reinforced concrete (RC) columns and beam-column joints with poorly detailed or insufficient reinforcement. Following the FEMA 356 guidelines, generalized flexure and shear forcedeformation relations were developed and compared with the experimental data from 26 column specimens and 17 beam-column joint specimens. Specifically, the measured and predicted responses were compared and evaluated: at yield displacement and the corresponding lateral load, lateral load and displacement at ultimate, and at axial load failure. In general, while the FEMA 356 models predict the lateral strength of columns reasonably well, they underestimate the shear strength of beam column joints. The predicted initial stiffness and deformations at both yield and ultimate are conservative for columns.