Seismic Response of UHPC Strengthened Reinforced Concrete Frame Using Concrete Damaged Plasticity Model

Abstract

The rate and nature of loading and observation scale influence the mechanical properties of concrete to a large extent (e.g., dynamic, i.e., time-varying loads, etc.). Various processes are linked to these factors and are often coupled across different scales. This complicates material modeling, and hence, there is a need to explore a numerical tool which will predict the response of concrete by limiting large-scale experimental testing. Concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) model is one such tool which can assess the failure and fragmentation of concrete. The existing experimental data of various loading mechanisms is not sufficient to encompass the aspects of their failure mechanisms. Nonlinear analysis can be carried out using CDP to evaluate the damage variables in tension and compression, to visualize deflections and various probable failure mechanisms and to complement experimental observations when test measurements are unknown. The present study deals with the numerical simulation of the response of RC space frame with and without slab under dynamic (seismic) loads using ABAQUS 6.14. The natural frequencies, peak load and displacement, the contour plots of various variables such as the deflections, compression damage, tension damage were captured and observed. The structure was strengthened using UHPC improvements. The objective is to gauge the response of the RC structure to seismic load in order to provide insight into critical areas that need to be reinforced and study the effectiveness of the UHPC reinforcement.