Title: Inelastic Responses of Reinforced Concrete Structure to Earthquake Motions

Author(s): Polat Gulkan and Mete A. Sozen

Publication: Journal Proceedings

Volume: 71

Issue: 12

Appears on pages(s): 604-610

Keywords: damping capacity; dynamic tests; earthquake resistant structures; earthquakes; elastic limit; hysteresis; loads (forces); reinforced concrete; shear properties; stiff-ness; structural analysis; structural engineering.

DOI: 10.14359/7110

Date: 12/1/1974

Abstract:
Two basic characteristics of reinforced concrete structures play an important role in determining response to strong ground motions. They are the changes in (a) stiffness and (b) energy dissipation capacity. Both can be related to the maximum displacement. Results of dynamic tests of reinforced concrete frames are used to illustrate the effects on dynamic response of changes in stiffness and energy dissipation capacity. It is shown that maximum inelastic response can be interpreted in terms of linearly elastic analysis by reference to a fictitious linear structure whose stiffness and damping characteristics are determined as a function of the assumed or known maximum displacement. This leads to asimplified method for estimating the design base shear taking account of inelastic response. The object of this paper is (a) to describe basic phenomena of energy dissipation in reinforced concrete structures subjected to strong ground motion and (b) to present a simplified method for estimating the design base shear corresponding to inelastic response. Tests of a series of reinforced concrete frames are re-ported in detail in the first reference. Individual frames were subjected to steady-state dynamic base motion, simulated earthquake motion, or static lateral loading. Data from the study are used to illustrate fundamental response characteristics. [Authors]