• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.78 no.1
• /
• pp.77-86
• /
• 2021

Local school buildings are critical facilities that can provide shelter in disasters such as earthquakes, so they must be more resistant to seismic forces than other structures. In this study, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine which columns-as the most critical members in a reinforced concrete building-most urgently require seismic retrofitting. The sensitivity analysis was conducted using an optimization technique with the location of each column as a parameter. A numerical model was developed to simulate a realistic collapse mode through a three-dimensional dynamic analysis. Based on numerical analysis results, it was found that the columns positioned in the lower floors, such as the first floor and in the outer part of a building, urgently require retrofitting. For reinforcement of the RC columns, which has been proven for its performance in previous research, was applied. Through this study, the importance of appropriate retrofitting is demonstrated. Further, a method for determining the appropriate location for retrofitting-when retrofitting is not possible on the entire structure-is presented.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
• /
• 2023.05a
• /
• pp.113-114
• /
• 2023

This study measured the thickness and speculation coefficient of the coating for existing buildings and calculated the diffusion coefficient of the coating to predict the depth of carbonation through numerical analysis in order to evaluate the impact of the external finish and local environment. As a result, it was possible to predict the short-term and long-term carbonation depth of reinforced concrete buildings coated with coating film with considerable reliability.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.25-29
• /
• 2022

This paper focuses on how the coupling of the columns and walls through the structural slab contributes to the overall stiffness and strength of lateral systems. The rationale and procedures behind the design approach, which may offer a shift from more conventional assumptions made regarding compatibility and connectivity of gravity and lateral structural systems, will be introduced. The impacts on serviceability and strength design will be discussed, and observations on key design and analysis approaches will be featured. Mass and stiffness assumptions will also be reviewed. A case study on the topic will be presented describing implementation of slab coupling into engineering of a building project.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.939-963
• /
• 2016

According to the new directives about the rational and efficient use of energy, thermal bridges in buildings have to be avoided, and the thermal insulation (TI) layer should run without interruptions all around the building - even under its foundations. The paper deals with the seismic response of multi-storeyed reinforced concrete (RC) frame building structures founded on an extruded polystyrene (XPS) layer placed beneath the foundation slab. The purpose of the paper is to elucidate the problem of buildings founded on a TI layer from the seismic resistance point of view, to assess the seismic behaviour of such buildings, and to search for the critical parameters which can affect the structural and XPS layer response. Nonlinear dynamic and static analyses were performed, and the seismic response of fixed-base (FB) and thermally insulated (TI) variants of nonlinear RC building models were compared. Soil-structure interaction was also taken into account for different types of soil. The results showed that the use of a TI layer beneath the foundation slab of a superstructure generally induces a higher peak response compared to that of a corresponding system without TI beneath the foundation slab. In the case of stiff structures located on firm soil, amplification of the response might be substantial and could result in exceedance of the superstructure's moment-rotation plastic hinge capacities or allowable lateral roof and interstorey drift displacements. In the case of heavier, slenderer, and higher buildings subjected to stronger seismic excitations, the overall response is governed by the rocking mode of oscillation, and as a consequence the compressive strength of the XPS could be insufficient. On the other hand, in the case of low-rise and light-weight buildings, the friction capacity between the layers of the applied TI foundation set might be exceeded so that sliding could occur.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.76 no.1
• /
• pp.83-99
• /
• 2020

Shear walls are structural members in buildings that are used extensively in reinforced concrete frame buildings, and almost exclusively in the UK, regardless of whether or not they are actually required. In recent years, the UK construction industry, led by the Concrete Centre, has questioned the need for such structural elements in low to mid-rise reinforced concrete frame buildings. In this context, a typical modern, 5-storey residential building is studied, and its existing shear walls are replaced with columns as used elsewhere in the building. The aim is to investigate the impact of several design variables, including concrete grade, column size, column shape and slab thickness, on the building's structural performance, considering two punching shear limits (V_Ed/V_Rd,c), lateral drift and accelerations, to evaluate its maximum possible height under wind actions without the inclusion of shear walls. To facilitate this study, a numerical model has been developed using the ETABS software. The results demonstrate that the building examined does not require shear walls in the design and has no lateral displacement or acceleration issues. In fact, with further analysis, it is shown that a similar building could be constructed up to 13 and 16 storeys high for 2 and 2.5 punching shear ratios (V_Ed/V_Rd,c), respectively, with adequate serviceability and strength, without the need for shear walls, albeit with thicker columns.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.37-46
• /
• 2012

In Korea, most existing school buildings have been constructed with moment frames with un-reinforced infill walls designed only considering gravity loads. Thus, the buildings may not perform satisfactorily during earthquakes expected in Korea. In exterior frames of the building, un-reinforced masonry infill walls with window openings are commonly placed, which may alter the structural behavior of adjacent columns due to the interaction between the wall and column. The objective of this study is to evaluate the seismic performance of existing school buildings according to the procedure specified in ATC 63. Analytical models are proposed to simulate the structural behavior of columns, infill walls and their interaction. The accuracy of the proposed model is verified by comparing the analytical results with the experimental test results for one bay frames with and without infill walls with openings. For seismic performance evaluation, three story buildings are considered as model frames located at sites having different soil conditions ($S_A$, $S_B$, $S_C$, $S_D$, $S_E$) in Korea. It is observed that columns behaves as a short columns governed by shear due to infill masonry walls with openings. The collapse probabilities of the frames under maximum considered earthquake ranges from 62.9 to 99.5 %, which far exceed the allowable value specified in ATC 63.

• Advances in Computational Design
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.13-36
• /
• 2023

The Puebla-Morelos Earthquake (Mw 7.1) occurred in Mexico in 2017 causing 44 buildings to collapse in Mexico City. This work evaluates the non-linear response of a 6-story reinforced concrete (RC) frame prototype model with masonry infill walls on upper floors. The prototype model was designed using provisions prescribed before 1985 and was subjected to seismic excitations recorded during the earthquakes of 1985 and 2017 in different places in Mexico City. The building response was assessed through a damage index (DI) that considers low-cycle fatigue of the steel reinforcement in columns of the first floor, where the steel was modeled including buckling as was observed in cases after the 2017 earthquake. Isocurves were generated with 72 seismic records in Mexico City representing the level of iso-demand on the structure. These isocurves were compared with the location of 16 collapsed (first-floor column failure) building cases consistent with the prototype model. The isocurves for a value greater than 1 demarcate the location where fatigue failure was expected, which is consistent with the location of 2 of the 16 cases studied. However, a slight increase in axial load (5%) or decrease in column cross-section (5%) had a significant detrimental effect on the cumulated damage, increasing the intensity of the isocurves and achieving congruence with 9 of the 16 cases, and having the other 7 cases less than 2 km away. Including column special detailing (tight stirrup spacing and confined concrete) was the variable with the greatest impact to control the cumulated damage, which was consistent with the absence of severe damage in buildings built in the 70s and 80s.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.349-361
• /
• 2024

Excessive torsional behaviour is one of the major reasons for failure of buildings, as inferred from past earthquakes. Numerous seismic codes across the world specify a displacement-based or drift-based criterion for classifying buildings as torsionally irregular. In recent years, quite a few researchers have pointed out some of the inherent deficiencies associated with the current codal guidelines on torsional irregularity. This short communication paper aims to envisage the need for a revision of the displacement-based guidelines on torsional irregularity, and further highlight the appropriateness of a rotation-based criterion. A set of 6 reinforced concrete building models with asymmetric shear walls are analysed using ETABS v18.0.2, by varying the number of stories from 1 to 9, and the torsional irregularity coefficient of various stories is calculated using the displacement-based formula. Since rotation about the vertical axis is a direct indication of the twist experienced by a building, the calculated torsional irregularity coefficients of all stories are compared with the corresponding floor rotations. The conflicting results obtained for the torsional irregularity coefficients are projected through five categories, namely mismatch with floor rotations, inconsistency in trend, lack of clarity in incorporation of negative values, sensitivity to low values of displacement and error conceived in the mathematical formulation. The findings indicate that the irregularity coefficient does not accurately represent the torsional behaviour of buildings in a realistic sense. The Indian seismic code-based values of 1.2 and 1.4, which are used to characterize buildings as torsionally irregular are observed to be highly sensitive to the numerical values of displacements, rather than the actual degree of rotation. The study thus emphasizes the revision of current guidelines based on a more relevant rotation-based or eccentricity-based approach.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 1997.10a
• /
• pp.287-292
• /
• 1997

Recent economic growths have accelerating much construction activities of various infrastructures, such as Express railway, Long-span bridges, Multi-story Buildings and etc. Reinforcement steel corrosion to be inevitably caused under the progress of these construction activities have been on and off serious problems in the site, which could incur another tragedic accident to us suffering from safety-ignorance disease. Thus, it is strongly requested to develop probable innovative products which could remove corrosive materials on rebars and also protect steel corrosion of reinforced concrete structures in the construction site. Hydro-Seal and Steel-Seal could solve these problems currently faced with in the construction site. The objective of this research is to experimentally evaluated the effect of Hydro-Seal and Steel-Seal in reinforced concrete structures, of which usage might affect the bond strength between steel and concrete, long-term compressive strength of concrete, corrosion resistance and etc. Related test results show that appropriate dosage of Hydro-Seal and Steel-Seal in reinforced concrete structures didnot affect physical properties of reinforced concrete structures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
• /
• 2017.05a
• /
• pp.266-267
• /
• 2017

As apartment buildings defect lawsuits become socioeconomic problems, an objective basis system for the term of warranty liability of reinforced concrete constructions is urgent. This study was carried out as a basic study for developing a basis system for the term of warranty liability. To do this, defect data actual collected in apartment complexes were collected and analyzed. As the result of checking the cumulative rate of defect occurrence in reinforced concrete construction by year, the point of time of reaching the 90% level was the 5th years, which was similar with the provision of the Apartment Building Management Act. However, the current Supreme Court precedent has decided that the term of warranty liability for the main structural parts in reinforced concrete construction shall be 10 years and the dispute is expected to continue in the future in the defect lawsuit.