• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.569-589
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• 2007

This paper presents an analytical model for RC beam-column connections that takes into account bond deterioration between reinforcing steel and concrete. The model is based on the Lumped Damage Mechanics (LDM) theory which allows for the characterization of cracking, degradation and yielding, and is extended in this paper by the inclusion of the slip effect as observed in those connections. Slip is assumed to be lumped at inelastic hinges. Thus, the concept of "slip hinge", based on the Coulomb friction plasticity theory, is formulated. The influence of cracking on the slip behavior is taken into account by using two concepts of LDM: the effective moment on an inelastic hinge and the strain equivalence hypothesis. The model is particularly suitable for wide beam-column connections for which bond deterioration dominates the hysteretic response. The model was evaluated by the numerical simulation of five tests reported in the literature. It is found that the model reproduces closely the observed behavior.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 2002

A model of the process of local buckling in tubular steel structural elements is presented. It is assumed that this degrading phenomenon can be lumped at plastic hinges. The model is therefore based on the concept of plastic hinge combined with the methods of continuum damage mechanics. The state of this new kind of inelastic hinge is characterized by two internal variables: the plastic rotation and the damage. The model is valid if only one local buckling appears in the plastic hinge region; for instance, in the case of framed structures subjected to monotonic loadings. Based on this damage model, a new finite element that can describe the development of local buckling is proposed. The element is the assemblage of an elastic beamcolumn and two inelastic hinges at its ends. The stiffness matrix, that depends on the level of damage, the yielding function and the damage evolution law of the two hinges define the new finite element. In order to verify model and finite element, several small-scale frames were tested in laboratory under monotonic loading. A lateral load at the top of the frame was applied in a stroke-controlled mode until local buckling appears and develops in several locations of the frame and its ultimate capacity was reached. These tests were simulated with the new finite element and comparison between model and test is presented and discussed.

• Architectural research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.79-87
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• 2017

In earthquake engineering, dynamic analyses are usually conducted by using a nonlinear analytical model of the entire building in order to identify the performance against earthquakes. At the same time, a large number of dynamic analyses are required to consider uncertainties on analytical models and ground motions. Therefore, it is necessary for the analytical model to be adequate, that is to say, the runtime should not be too long as the entire building is modeled to be in much detail, or the nonlinear model should not yield outputs very far from the actual ones by excluding important behaviors too much. The analytical model is usually developed based on experimental results, which have been already conducted for reinforced concrete columns with relaxed details. Therefore, this study aimed at making analytical models to be able to simulate the hysteretic behavior of the columns simply and easily. The analytical model utilizes a lumped hinge model to represent nonlinear moment-rotation hysteretic behavior of RC columns, which is feasible for nonlinear dynamic analyses usually conducted in earthquake engineering and for matching the analytical model to test results. For the analytical model, elements and material models provided by OpenSees are utilized. The analytical model can define the envelope curve, pinching, and unloading stiffness deterioration, but shortcoming of this model is not to be able to consider axial force-moment interaction directly and to simulate strength deterioration after post-capping completely. However, the analytical model can still represent test results well by considering that the goal of this study is to propose a general way to represent the hysteretic behavior of RC columns with relaxed details, not to provide parameters for a refined hysteretic model that can be just applied case by case.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.169-188
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• 2015

There are two types of nonlinear analysis methods for building frameworks depending on the method of modeling the plastification of members including lumped plasticity and distributed plasticity. The lumped plasticity method assumes that plasticity is concentrated at a zero-length plastic hinge section at the ends of the elements. The distributed plasticity method discretizes the structural members into many line segments, and further subdivides the cross-section of each segment into a number of finite elements. When a reinforced concrete member experiences inelastic deformations, cracks tend to spread form the joint interface resulting in a curvature distribution. The program IDARC includes a spread plasticity formulation to capture the variation of the section flexibility, and combine them to determine the element stiffness matrix. In this formulation, the flexibility distribution in the structural elements is assumed to be the linear. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of linear flexibility distribution assumed in the spread inelasticity model. For this purpose, nonlinear analysis of two reinforced concrete frames is carried out and the linear flexibility models used in the elements are compared with the real ones. It is shown that the linear flexibility distribution is incorrect assumption in cases of significant gravity load effects and can be lead to incorrect nonlinear responses in some situations.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2017

There are two methods to model the plastification of members comprising lumped and distributed plasticity. When a reinforced concrete member experiences inelastic deformations, cracks tend to spread from the joint interface resulting in a curvature distribution; therefore, the lumped plasticity methods assuming plasticity is concentrated at a zero-length plastic hinge section at the ends of the elements, cannot model the actual behavior of reinforced concrete members. Some spread plasticity models including uniform, linear and recently power have been developed to take extended inelastic zone into account. In the aforementioned models, the extended inelastic zones in proximity of critical sections assumed close to connections are considered. Although the mentioned assumption is proper for the buildings simply imposed lateral loads, it is not appropriate for the gravity load effects. The gravity load effects can influence the inelastic zones in structural elements; therefore, the plasticity models presenting the flexibility distribution along the member merely based on lateral loads apart from the gravity load effects can bring about incorrect stiffness matrix for structure. In this study, the linear flexibility distribution model is improved to account for the distributed plasticity of members subjected to both gravity and lateral load effects. To do so, a new model in which, each member is taken as one structural element into account is proposed. Some numerical examples from previous studies are assessed and outcomes confirm the accuracy of proposed model. Also comparing the results of the proposed model with other spread plasticity models illustrates glaring error produced due to neglecting the gravity load effects.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.319-341
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• 2009

A new formulation based on lumped plasticity and inelastic hinges is presented in this paper for nonlinear analysis of Reinforced Concrete (RC) frame structures. Inelastic hinge behaviour is described using the principles of Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM). Member formulation contains provisions to model stiffness degradation due to cracking of concrete and yielding of reinforcing steel. Depending on its nature, cracking is classified as concentrated or distributed. Concentrated cracking is accounted through a damage variable and its growth is defined based on strain energy principles. Presence of distributed flexural cracks in a member is taken care of by modelling it as non-prismatic. Plasticity theory supported by effective stress concept of CDM is applied to describe the post-yield response. Nonlinear quasi-static analysis is carried out on a RC column and a wide two-storey RC frame to verify the formulation. The column is subjected to constant axial load and monotonic lateral load while the frame is subjected to only lateral load. Computed results are compared with those due to experiments or other numerical methods to validate the performance of the formulation and also to highlight the contribution of distributed cracking on global response.