• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.1 no.3
• /
• pp.325-354
• /
• 2004

Slabs in buildings and bridge decks, which are restrained against lateral displacements at the edges, have ultimate strengths far in excess of those predicted by analytical methods based on yield line theory. The increase in strength has been attributed to membrane action, which is due to the in-plane forces developed at the supports. The benefits of compressive membrane action are usually not taken into account in currently available design methods developed based on plastic flow theories assuming concrete to be a rigid-plastic material. By extending the existing knowledge of compressive membrane action, it is possible to design slabs in building and bridge structures economically with less than normal reinforcement. Recent research on building and bridge structures reflects the importance of membrane action in design. This paper describes the finite element modelling of membrane action in reinforced concrete slabs through optimisation of a simple concrete model. Through a series of parametric studies using the simple concrete model in the finite element simulation of eight fully clamped concrete slabs with significant membrane action, a set of fixed numerical model parameter values is identified and computational conditions established, which would guarantee reliable strength prediction of arbitrary slabs. The reliability of the identified values to simulate membrane action (for prediction purposes) is further verified by the direct simulation of 42 other slabs, which gave an average value of 0.9698 for the ratio of experimental to predicted strengths and a standard deviation of 0.117. A 'deflection factor' is also established for the slabs, relating the predicted peak deflection to experimental values, which, (for the same level of fixity at the supports), can be used for accurate displacement determination. The proposed optimised concrete model and finite element procedure can be used as a tool to simulate membrane action in slabs in building and bridge structures having variable support and loading conditions including fire. Other practical applications of the developed finite element procedure and design process are also discussed.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.16 no.2 s.80
• /
• pp.221-228
• /
• 2004

In recent years building floors become larger and more spacious due to the development of new design methods and high strength and light weight materials. However, such long span floor systems may provide smaller amount of damping and have a longer period so that they may be more vulnerable to the floor vertical vibration. In Korea when floors are to be checked against the floor vertical vibration, the provisions developed in foreign countries have been used. However these guidelines have been developed based on human perception, which may vary from country to country. Also, Korea have particular floor systems, such as flat plate floor system of apartment building. This study attempts to evaluate the vibration performance of the floors in typical apartment buildings. Two different floors with the area of $28 m^2$ and $32 m^2$ were investigated. The criteria provided by ATC-1(1999), AISC-11(1997), AIJ(1991) and the local criteria developed in the previous study(Han, 2003) was used to check the acceptability of the floor vertical vibration.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.10 no.1 s.47
• /
• pp.9-16
• /
• 2006

The design practice of the lateral resisting system has been traditionally dependent on the experience and know-how of a structural engineer. And the method to reflect the evaluation results of building's capacity on design process doesn't exist. The proposal of a rational design of the lateral load resisting system is based on the available full capacity $(R_{ac})$ of a building and the minimum required capacity $(R_{code})$ suggested in the code. This study suggests thai nonlinear static analysis, which is the estimation of the lateral capacity with the pushover analysis, be included in the existing design procedure of the structure. After finishing the basic structural design, the lateral resisting capacity ol a building is estimated. At the phase of nonlinear static analysis, pushover analysis is peformed to define the fully yielded baseshear $(V_Y)$. When the design wind baseshear $(V_{wind})$ is bigger than the design seismic baseshear $(V_D)$, the value is checked to determine whether or not it is smaller than the $V_Y$. After confirming that it is smaller, the $R_{ac}$ of the structure is computed. If the $V_D$ is bigger at first, only the $R_{ac}$ is computed. When the value of the estimation shows remarkable differences with the $R_{code}$, repetition of the design modification is needed for those approximate to the $R_{code}$. Application of the proposed design procedure to 2-D steel braced RC buildings has proven to be efficient.