Effects of Modeling Staircases on Seismic Responses of Concrete Frames

Abstract

Staircases in reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures have suffered severe damages in past earthquakes, despite being regarded as the main means of egress during emergencies. To make sure that staircases perform as safe passages in strong earthquakes, the performance of RC stair structures should be scrutinized under major earthquakes. In this research at first, staircases were simulated as shell elements in RC frames and analyzed under gravity loads in order to find the maximum forces and moments. In the second step, the influence of staircases on the structural behavior of RC frame structures under seismic loads was studied. The results showed that stairs act as a K-type bracing system. Furthermore, a parametric study was carried out and relations for calculating force and moment in stairs slabs that had been determined under gravity loads, were modified. In addition, affected areas of structure interacting with the stairs in an earthquake were distinguished.