Vulnerability / Seismic Performance of Older RC Waffle Flat-Plate Systems in a Low-to-Moderate-Seismicity Region

Abstract eng:
The objective of this research is to investigate the seismic performance of waffle-flat-plate floor systems engineered to resist low earthquake excitations in low to moderate seismicity regions. The models investigated represent structures built between the seventies and nineties in Spain, according to earlier seismic codes that did not provide any requirement for attaining ductility. Scaled test specimens constructed and tested under quasi static cyclic loading made it possible to clarify the hysteretic behavior of this type of structure. Based on the experimental results, a numerical model is proposed and calibrated, approximately representing the hysteretic behavior of the waffle flat-plate column connections. Using this numerical model, the seismic behavior of a 6-storey, 3-bay and 3-span building is investigated through nonlinear dynamic response analysis. A Performance Based Earthquake Engineering (PBEE) approach is applied, and the response of the building under five historical accelerograms is discussed. The results of the analysis confirm the excessive lateral flexibility and the limited usable ductility of this type of system.

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