Rocha, Patrício

Experimental Testing of Columns Subjected To Biaxial Horizontal Loading and Constant/Variable Axial Load – An Innovative Setup

Abstract eng:
Over the last years, there has been increasing interest on experimental testing to support better understanding of structural behaviour under earthquake loading, with emphasis on numerical model calibration, development of efficient techniques for seismic protection and/or resilience improvement of structures. A significant number of experimental studies have been carried out during the last years concerning to the characterization of the columns (reinforced concrete or steel) behaviour when subjected to cyclic loadings. However, the experimental tests of columns under cyclic uniaxial and biaxial bending is one of the hardest and complex to reproduce in laboratory, since this tests should contemplate current actions simultaneous simultaneously. There is many column test models proposed by different authors, differing in aspects such as the fixation of the specimens, the application of the horizontal or of the axial load and in the measurement of the displacements and the extensions. Nevertheless, the application of the axial load is probably the most critical and distinguish issue in this type of experimental tests, not only by the difficulty of the test implementation, but mostly because this particular issue influence significantly the columns response during the tests, namely in terms of strength, stiffness, ductility and energy dissipation capacity. For this, along present manuscript a brief state-of-art of columns experimental test setups will be described, and will be compared with the test setup developed and implemented in the Laboratory of Earthquake and Structural Engineering (LESE) of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (Portugal). Aspects related to the load control and application, fixation of the specimens, instrumentation of the test control system will be discussed along the manuscript.

Contributors:

Delgado, Raimundo

Conference Title:

Proceedings of the 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

Conference Title:

16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

Conference Venue:

Santiago (CL)

Conference Dates:

2017-01-09 / 2017-01-13

Rights:

Text je chráněný podle autorského zákona č. 121/2000 Sb.