• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.64 no.2
• /
• pp.213-223
• /
• 2017

Bridges are lifeline and integral components of transportation system that are susceptible to seismic actions, their vulnerability assessment is essential for seismic risk assessment and mitigation. The vulnerability assessment of bridges common in Pakistan is very important as it is seismically very active region and the available code for the seismic design of bridges is obsolete. This research presents seismic vulnerability assessment of three real case simply supported multi-span reinforced concrete bridges commonly found in northern Pakistan, having one, two and three bents with circular piers. The vulnerability assessment is carried through the non-linear dynamic time history analyses for the derivation of fragility curves. Finite element based numerical models of the bridges were developed in MIDAS CIVIL (2015) and analyzed through with non-linear dynamic and incremental dynamic analyses, using a suite of bridge-specific natural spectrum compatible ground motion records. Seismic responses of shear key, bearing pad, expansion joint and pier components of each bridges were recorded during analysis and retrieved for performance based analysis. Fragility curves were developed for the bearing pads, shear key, expansion joint and pier of the bridges that first reach ultimate limit state. Dynamic analysis and the derived fragility curves show that ultimate limit state of bearing pads, shear keys and expansion joints of the bridges exceed first, followed by the piers ultimate limit state for all the three bridges. Mean collapse capacities computed for all the components indicated that bearing pads, expansion joints, and shear keys exceed the ultimate limit state at lowest seismic intensities.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.297-317
• /
• 2016

Current codes recommend large amounts of shear reinforcement for reinforced concrete beam-column joints that causes significant bar congestion. Increase in congestion of shear reinforcement in joint core (connection zone), leads to increase accomplishment problems. The congestion may also lead to diameter limitations on the beam bars relative to the joint dimensions. Using double headed studs instead of conventional closed hoops in reinforced concrete beam-column joints reduces congestion and ensures easier assembly of the reinforcing cage. The purpose of this research is evaluating the efficiency of the proposed reinforcement. In this way, 10 groups of exterior beam-column joints are modeled. Each group includes 7 specimens by different reinforcing details in their joint core. All specimens are modeled by using of ABAQUS and analyzed subjected to cyclic loading. After verification of analytical modeling with an experimental specimen, 3D nonlinear specimens are modeled and analyzed. Then, the effect of amount and arrangement of headed studs on ductility, performance, ultimate strength and energy absorption has been studied. Based on the results, all joints reinforced with double headed studs represent better performance compared with the joints without shear transverse reinforcement in joints core. The behavior of the former is close to joints reinforced with closed hoops and cross ties according to the seismic design codes. By adjusting the arrangement of double-headed studs, the decrease in ductility, performance, ultimate moment resistant and energy absorption reduce to 2.61%, 0.90%, 0.90% and 1.66% respectively compared with the joints reinforced by closed hoops on the average. Since the use of headed studs reduces accomplishment problems, these amounts are negligible. Therefore, use of double-headed studs has proved to be a viable option for reinforcing exterior beam-column joints.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.125-133
• /
• 2014

In this study, experimental research was carried out to investigate the seismic and structural performance of precast concrete exterior beam-column joints using bolt type connection and prestressing method. A total of five full-scale exterior beam-column joints were constructed and tested under reversed cyclic loading, controlled by displacement. Results of the test are as follows: Energy dissipation capacity and pinching phenomenon of PC beam-column joints showed disadvantageous behavior compared to RC beam-column joints. However, drift capacity of the PC joint was excellent. Also, yield mechanism concentrated on embedded nuts was suitable as an exterior beam-column joint of lateral load resistance frame. Additional application of prestressing method was also very effective to control excessive pinching and cracking in the joint region, and thus improved an overall seismic performance of the PC joint.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.417-426
• /
• 2018

This paper presents the seismic behaviors and restoring force model of ring beam joints of steel tube-reinforced concrete column structure under cyclic loading. First, the main failure mode, ultimate bearing capacity, stiffness degradation and energy dissipation capacity are studied. Then, the effects of concrete grade, steel grade, reinforcement ratio and radius-to-width ratios are discussed. Finally, the restoring force model is proposed. Results show that the ring beam joints of steel tube-reinforced concrete column structure performs good seismic performances. With concrete grade increasing, the ultimate bearing capacity and energy dissipation capacity increase, while the stiffness degradation rates increases slightly. When the radius-width ratio is 2, with reinforcement ratio increasing, the ultimate bearing capacity decreases. However, when the radius-to-width ratios are 3, with reinforcement ratio increasing, the ultimate bearing capacity increases. With radius-to-width ratios increasing, the ultimate bearing capacity decreases slightly and the stiffness degradation rate increases, but the energy dissipation capacity increases slightly.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.74 no.3
• /
• pp.395-406
• /
• 2020

Many prefabricated concrete frame joints have been proposed, and most of them showed good seismic performance. However, there are still some limitations in the proposed fabricated joints. For example, for prefabricated prestressed concrete joints, prefabricated beams and prefabricated columns are assembled as a whole by the pre-stressed steel bar and steel strand in the beams, which brings some troubles to the construction, and the reinforcement in the core area of the joints is complex, and the mechanical mechanism is not clear. Based on the current research results, a new type of fabricated joint of prestressed concrete beams and confined concrete columns is proposed. To study the seismic performance of the joint, the quasi-static test is carried out. The test results show that the nodes exhibit good ductility and energy dissipation. According to the experimental fitting method and the "fixed point pointing" law, the resilience model of this kind of nodes is established, and compared with the experimental results, the two agree well, which can provides a certain reference for elasto-plastic seismic response analysis of this type of structure. Besides, based on the analysis of the factors affecting the shear capacity of the node core area, the formula of shear capacity of the core area of the node is proposed, and the theoretical values of the formula are consistent with the experimental value.

• Advances in Computational Design
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.61-77
• /
• 2016

Seismic performance of structures depends on the force flow mechanism inside the structure. Discontinuity regions, like beam-column joints, are often affected during earthquake event due to the complex and discontinuous load paths. The evaluation of shear strength and identification of failure mode of the joint region are helpful to (i) define the strength hierarchy of the beam-column sub-assemblage, (ii) quantify the influence of different parameters on the behaviour of beam-column joint and, (iii) develop suitable and adequate strengthening scheme for the joints, if required, to obtain the desired strength hierarchy. In view of this, it is very important to estimate the joint shear strength and identify the failure modes of the joint region as it is the most critical part in any beam-column sub-assemblage. One of the most effective models is softened strut and tie model which was developed by incorporating force equilibrium, strain compatibility and constitutive laws of cracked reinforced concrete. In this study, softened strut and tie model, which incorporates force equilibrium equations, compatibility conditions and material constitutive relation of the cracked concrete, are used to simulate the shear strength behaviour and to identify failure mechanisms of the beam-column joints. The observations of the present study will be helpful to arrive at the design strategy of the joints to ensure the desired failure mechanism and strength hierarchy to achieve sustainability of structural systems under seismic loading.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.1017-1038
• /
• 2015

This paper presents a strengthening method that involves the use of ferrocement jackets and chamfers to relocate plastic hinge for non-seismically designed reinforced concrete exterior beam-column joints. An experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the proposed strengthening method. Four half-scale beam-column joints, including one control specimen and three strengthened specimens, were prepared and tested under quasi-static cyclic loading. Strengthening schemes include ferrocement jackets with or without skeleton reinforcements and one or two chamfers. Experimental results have indicated that the proposed strengthening method is effective to move plastic hinge from the joint to the beam and enhance seismic performance of beam-column joints. Shear stress and distortion within the joint region are also reduced significantly in strengthened specimens. Skeleton reinforcements in ferrocement provide limited improvement, except on crack control. Specimen strengthened by ferrocement jackets with one chamfer exhibits slight decrease in peak strength and energy dissipation but with increase in ductility as compared with that of two chamfers. Finally, a method for estimating moment capacity at beam-column interface for strengthened specimen is developed. The proposed method gives reasonable prediction and can ensure formation of plastic hinge at predetermined location in the beam.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.409-419
• /
• 2017

In order to analyze the vibration control effect of viscous damper in the concrete archaized buildings with lintel-column joints under seismic action, 3 specimens were tested under dynamic excitation. Two specimens with viscous damper were defined as the controlled component and one specimen without viscous damper was specified as the non-controlled component. The loading process and failure patterns were obtained from the test results. The failure characteristics, skeleton curves and mechanical behavior such as the load-displacement hysteretic loops, load carrying capacity, degradation of strength and rigidity, ductility and energy dissipation of the joints were analyzed. The results indicate that the load-bearing capacity of the controlled component is significantly higher than that of the non-controlled component. The former component has an average increase of 27.4% in yield load and 22.4% in ultimate load, respectively. Meanwhile, the performance of displacement ductility and the ability of energy dissipation for the controlled component are superior to those of the non-controlled component as well. Compared with non-controlled component, equivalent viscous damping coefficients are improved by 27.3%-30.8%, the average increase is 29.0% at ultimate load for controlled component. All these results reflect that the seismic performance of the controlled component is significantly better than that of the non-controlled component. These researches are helpful for practical application of viscous damper in the concrete archaizing buildings with lintel-column joints.

• Advances in Computational Design
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.381-395
• /
• 2019

This paper proposes a new approach to model the screw joints of integrated ceilings via the finite element method (FEM). The simulation models consist of the beam elements. The screw joints used in the main bars and cross bars and in the W bars and cross bars are assumed to be rotation springs. The stiffness of the rotation springs is defined according to the technical standards proposed by the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management of Japan. By comparing the results of the sheer tests and the simulation models, the effectiveness and efficiency of the simulation models proposed in this paper are verified. This paper indicates the possibility that the seismic performance of suspended ceilings can be confirmed directly via beam element models using FEM if the stiffnesses of the screw joints of the ceiling substrates are appropriately defined. Because cross-sectional shapes, physical properties, and other variables of the ceiling substrates can be easily changed in the models, it is expected that suspended ceiling manufactures will be able to design and confirm the seismic performance of suspended ceilings with different cross-sectional shapes or materials via computers, instead of spending large amounts of time and money on shake table tests.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.485-498
• /
• 2020

Non-ductile detailing of Reinforced Concrete (RC) frames may lead to structural failure when the structure is subjected to earthquake response. These designs are generally encountered in older RC frames constructed prior to the introduction of the ductility aspect. The failure observed in the beam-column joints (BCJs) and accompanied by excessive column damage. This work examines the seismic performance and failure mode of non-ductile designed RC columns and exterior BCJs. The design was based on the actual building in Tainan City, Taiwan, that collapsed due to the 2016 Meinong earthquake. Hence, an experimental investigation using cyclic testing was performed on two columns and two BCJ specimens scaled down to 50%. The experiment resulted in a poor response in both specimens. Excessive cracks and their propagation due to the incursion of the lateral loads could be observed close to the top and bottom of the specimens. Joint shear failure appeared in the joints. The ductility of the member was below the desired value of 4. This is the minimum number required to survive an earthquake with a similar magnitude to that of El Centro. The evidence provides an understanding of the seismic failure of poorly detailed RC frame structures.