Investigation of Seismic Performance of Tri-Axial Reinforced Concrete Frames With Self-Centering Capacity

Abstract eng:
The goal of this study was to investigate the behavior of reinforced concrete frame structures with self-centering beamcolumn and column-base connections and to confirm the ability to model these systems with a state-of-the-art computer model that would be useful to engineers. To these ends, a three-story tri-axial reinforced concrete frame with self-centering capacity was designed and constructed for testing on a shake table. The beam-column and column-base joints of the selfcentering frame are allowed to open at beam ends and uplift at column bases by releasing the constraints, while prestressed tendons are introduced to ensure the self-centering of the structure. The frame specimen was subjected to significant earthquakes during the tests. Test results indicate that the designed reinforced concrete frame has excellent seismic performance and self-centering capacity subjected to strong earthquakes with minor residual drifts in the frame, as designed. Analytical models of the entire frame with the beam-column connections and the column-base connections were constructed to study the seismic performance of the self-centering frames using OpenSEES, and a series of nonlinear time history analyses are carried out in this study. The results indicate that the self-centering technique is quite effective on reducing the residual deformation for the RC frame structure under strong earthquakes, which may therefore protect the main structure from being damaged.

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