Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Structural Steel Retrofitted Reinforced Concrete Test Frames

Abstract

This chapter presents the analysis of deficient and retrofitted reinforced concrete test frames subjected to simulated earthquake excitations. First, the results of the pseudo dynamic (PsD) tests conducted on three two story-three bay reinforced concrete (RC) frames are presented. One of the test frames was a reference frame with infill walls, while the others were strengthened with chevron brace and internal steel frame. For PsD tests, Duzce motion record was applied. A nonlinear time history analysis was performed to observe the ability of estimating the dynamic response of the test frame. Force based fiber elements were utilized to model RC beams and columns by considering the confined and unconfined concrete parts of these members’ sections. The infill wall was conducted by compression struts with the capability of simulating collapse with an element removal algorithm. The simulations revealed that collapse simulation of the infill wall plays a crucial role in estimating large seismic deformation demands. It was also observed that post installed connections of the structural steel members may exhibit some flexibility, hence need to be taken into account in the numerical models.KeywordsRC frameNonlinear time history analysisPseudo dynamic testChevron braceInternal steel frame