• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.327-341
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• 2020

Advanced forms of structural design (e.g., displacement-based methods) require knowledge of the non-linear force-displacement behavior of both the overall building and individual lateral load resisting elements, i.e., walls or building cores. Similarly, understanding the non-linear behaviour of the elements in a structure can also allow for a less conservative structural response to be calculated by better understanding the cracked (i.e., effective) properties of the various RC elements. Calculating the non-linear response of an RC section typically involves using 'black box' analysis packages, wherein the user may not be in complete control nor be aware of all the intricate settings and/or decisions behind the scenes. This paper introduces a user-friendly and transparent analysis program for predicting the back-bone force displacement behavior of slender (i.e., flexure controlled) RC walls, building cores or columns. The program has been validated and benchmarked theoretically against both commonly available and widely used analysis packages and experimentally against a database of 16 large-scale RC wall test specimens. The program, which is called WHAM, is written using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to promote transparency and allow users to further develop or modify to suit individual requirements. The program is available free-of-charge and is intended to be used as an educational tool for structural designers, researchers or students.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.485-500
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• 2023

The non-linear static analysis of reinforced concrete (RC) structures using the three-dimensional (3D) finite element method is a time-consuming and challenging task. Moreover, this type of analysis encounters numerical problems such as the lack of convergence of results in the stages of growth and propagation of cracks in the structure. The time integration analysis along with the mass scaling (MS) technique is usually used to overcome these limitations. Despite the use of this method in the 3D finite element analysis of RC structures, a comprehensive study has not been conducted so far to assess the effects of the MS method on the accuracy of results. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of the MS method in the non-linear quasi-static finite element analysis of RC structures. To this aim, different types of RC structures were simulated using the finite element approach based on the implicit time integration method and the mass scaling technique. The influences of effective parameters of the MS method (i.e., the allowable values of increase in the mass of the RC structure, the relationship between the duration of the applied load and fundamental vibration period of the RC structure, and the pattern of applied loads) on the accuracy of the simulated results were investigated. The accuracy of numerical simulation results has been evaluated through comparison with existing experimental data. The results of this study show that the achievement of accurate structural responses in the implicit time integration analyses using the MS method involves the appropriate selection of the effective parameters of the MS method.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.348-355
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• 2000

The characteristics on non linear behavior and the failure mechanism of RC space frame structure serving railway under seismic action have been investigated by numerical analysis in time domain. The structure concerned is modeled in 3 dimensional extent and RC frame elements with fibers are employed. Fibers are characterized as RC one and PL one to distinguish different energy release after cracking. Due to deviation of mass center and stiffness center of entire structure the complex behavior under seismic action is shown. The excessive shear force is concentrated on the pier beside flexible one relatively, which leads to failure of bridge concerned.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.351-373
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• 2014

This paper investigates the seismic response of lightweight acceleration-sensitive non-structural components (NSCs) mounted on irregular reinforced concrete (RC) primary structures (P-structures) using non-linear dynamic finite element (FE) analysis. The aim of this paper is to study the influence of NSC to P-structure vibration period ratio, peak ground acceleration, NSC to P-structure height ratio, and P-structure torsional behaviour on the seismic response of the NSCs. Representative constitutive models were used to simulate the behaviour of the RC P-structures. The NSCs were modelled as vertical cantilevers fixed at their bases with masses on the free ends and varying lengths so as to match the frequencies of the P-structures. Full dynamic interaction is considered between the NSCs and P-structures. A set of 21 natural and artificial earthquake records were used to evaluate the seismic response of the NSCs. The numerical results indicate that the behaviour of the NSCs is significantly influenced by the investigated parameters. Comparison between the FE results and Eurocode (EC8) predictions suggests that EC8 underestimates the response of NSCs mounted on the flexible sides of irregular RC P-structures when the fundamental periods and heights of the NSCs match those of the P-structures. The perceived cause of this discrepancy is that EC8 does not take into account the amplification in the dynamic response of NSCs induced by the torsional behaviour of RC P-structures.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.629-643
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• 2016

Among all the natural disasters, earthquakes are the most destructive calamities since they cause a plenty of injuries and economic losses leaving behind a series of signs of panic. The present study highlights the moment-curvature relationships for the structural elements such as beam and column elements and Non-Linear Static Pushover Analysis of RC frame structures since it is a very simplified procedure of non-linear static analysis. The highly popular model namely Mander's model and Kent and Park model are considered and then, seismic risk evaluation of RC building has been conducted using SAP 2000 version 17 treating uncertainty in strength as a parameter. From the obtained capacity and demand curves, the performance level of the structure has been defined. The seismic fragility curves were developed for the variations in the material strength and damage state threshold are calculated. Also the comparison of experimental and analytical results has been conducted.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.211-229
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• 2004

The main purpose of this paper is the numerical analysis of the non-linear seismic response of a RC building mock-up. The mock-up is subjected to different synthetic horizontal seismic excitations. The numerical approach is based on a 3D-model involving multilayered shell elements. These elements are composed of several single-layer membranes with various eccentricities. Bending effects are included through these eccentricities. Basic equations are first written for a single membrane element with its own eccentricity and then generalised to the multilayered shell element by superposition. The multilayered shell is considered as a classical shell element : all information about non-linear constitutive relations are investigated at the local scale of each layer, whereas balance and kinematics are checked afterwards at global scale. The non-linear dynamic response of the building is computed with Newmark algorithm. The numerical dynamic results (blind simulations) are considered in the linear and non linear cases and compared with experimental results from shaking table tests. Multilayered shell elements are found to be a promising tool for predictive computations of RC structures behaviour under 3D seismic loadings. This study was part of the CAMUS International Benchmark.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.791-818
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• 2015

RC buildings constitute the prevailing type of construction in earthquake-prone region like Kathmandu Valley. Most of these building constructions were based on conventional methods. In this context, the present paper studied the seismic behaviour of existing RC buildings in Kathmandu Valley. For this, four representative building structures with different design and construction, namely a building: (a) representing the non-engineered construction (RC1 and RC2) and (b) engineered construction (RC3 and RC4) has been selected for analysis. The dynamic properties of the case study building models are analyzed and the corresponding interaction with seismic action is studied by means of non-linear analyses. The structural response measures such as capacity curve, inter-storey drift and the effect of geometric non-linearities are evaluated for the two orthogonal directions. The effect of plan and vertical irregularity on the performance of the structures was studied by comparing the results of two engineered buildings. This was achieved through non-linear dynamic analysis with a synthetic earthquake subjected to X, Y and $45^{\circ}$ loading directions. The nature of the capacity curve represents the strong impact of the P-delta effect, leading to a reduction of the global lateral stiffness and reducing the strength of the structure. The non-engineered structures experience inter-storey drift demands higher than the engineered building models. Moreover, these buildings have very low lateral resistant, lesser the stiffness and limited ductility. Finally, a seismic safety assessment is performed based on the proposed drift limits. Result indicates that most of the existing buildings in Nepal exhibit inadequate seismic performance.

• Journal of KIBIM
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

As BIM application continues to increase in civil engineering, in this study, 3D information model for RC(Reinforced Concrete) bridge pylon was developed and verified its effectiveness at the structural-design stage. To define 3D information model of RC A-Type pylon, characteristics of pylon were analyzed and 3D model structure was constructed. The 3D information model, one of the core product of BIM, manages all information generated during all life-cycle of a structure and consequently maximizes the efficiency of utilizing information. Also, this study proposes interface module between input data in structural analysis and 3D model of RC pylon. The module can create the input data for non-linear structural analysis. It is essential to study on method of developing 3D information model and propose a structural analysis model by utilizing 3D model for the effective use of BIM techniques in construction industry. The results of this study can be used as the base data for developing the 3D information model of RC pylon in the structural analysis field.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.43-49
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• 2007

The reinforced concrete slab is one of main structure members in the construction industry sector. However, most of researches regarding to RC slabs have been focused on two-dimensional Mindlin-type plate element on the basis of laminated plate theory since three-dimensional solid element has a lot of difficulties in finite element formulation and costs in CPU time. In reality, the RC slabs are subjected to dynamic loads like a heavy traffic vehicle load, and thus should insure the safety from the static load as well as dynamic load. Once we can estimate the dynamic behaviour of RC slabs exactly, it will be very helpful for design of it. In this study, the 20-node solid element has been used to analyze the dynamic characteristics of RC slabs with clamped edges. The elasto-visco plastic model for material non-linearity and the smeared crack model have been adopted in the finite element formulation. The applicability of the proposed finite element has been tested for dynamic behaviour of RC slabs with respect to characteristics of concrete materials in terms of cracking stress, crushing strain, fracture energy and Poisson's ratio. The effect on dynamic behaviour is dependent on not crushing strain but cracking stress, fracture energy and Poisson's ratio. In addition to this, it is shown the damping phenomenon of RC slabs has been identified from the numerical results by using Rayleigh damping.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Most commercial buildings among existing RC buildings in Korea have a multi-story wall-frame structure where RC shear wall is commonly used as its core at stairways or elevators. The members of the existing middle and low-rise wall-frame buildings are likely arranged in ordinary details considering building occupancy, and the importance and difficulty of member design. This is because there are few limitations, considerations, and financial burdens on the code for designing members with ordinary details. Compared with the intermediate or unique details, the ductility and overstrength are insufficient. Furthermore, the behavior of the member can be shear-dominated. Since shear failure in vertical members can cause a collapse of the entire structure, nonlinear characteristics such as shear strength and stiffness deterioration should be adequately reflected in the analysis model. With this background, an 8-story RC wall-frame building was designed as a building frame system with ordinary shear walls, and the effect of reflecting the shear failure mode of columns and walls on the collapse mechanism was investigated. As a result, the shear failure mode effect on the collapse mechanism was evident in walls, not columns. Consequently, it is recommended that the shear behavior characteristics of walls are explicitly considered in the analysis of wall-frame buildings with ordinary details.