Effect of HPFRCC on Seismic Performance of Beam-Column-Slab Subassembly

Abstract

High performance fiber reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCC) material exhibits strain-hardening and multiple cracking behaviors. Using HPFRCC in the reinforced concrete (RC) frame is considered to improve the seismic performance and damage mechanism of structure. Three beam-column-slab subassemblies were tested under cyclic loading, and eight frame models were simulation by ABAQUS. In this paper, the effect of substitution of concrete with HPFRCC on the seismic performance and damage mechanism of subassemblies was investigated. According to the test results, the lateral bearing capacity and deformability of beam-column-slab subassemblies increased by above 10% through using the HPFRCC material in the expected damage positions. The shear resistance of the joint zone with HPFRCC material increased by 1.6%, the shear deformation of the joint zone decreased by 7.9%. And the contribution of slab bars to the beam flexural bearing strength also decreased for that the yielding range and the strain amplitude of slab bars are limited through using HPFRCC material. Consequently, the subassemblies were prone to the “strong column — weak beam” damage mechanism to using HPFRCC material in the expected damage positions.