Reinforced concrete structures under cyclic dynamic action

Summary

Even though computer methods for the nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete structures are getting more and more refined, practical tests are indispensible for the verification and calibration of numerical models. Cyclic dynamic testing is planned to determine important input parameters of the numerical models. These tests will also demonstrate that ductile reinforced concrete structures have the energy dissipation capacity usually assumed in seismic design.

The reinforced concrete wall specimens of the tests performed on the ETH shake table correspond to the walls of a 3-storey building. To simulate realistic tributary areas of gravity loads and horizontal inertial forces, additional masses are provided on an extension to the test set-up.

The tests on 6 RC-wall specimens in scale 1 : 3 with dimensions 0.10 x 1.00 (or 0.90) x 4.65 m were completed in January 1998. The concrete dimensions and the reinforcement of the specimens were chosen with respect to the bending moment reaction capacity of the shake table. The main testing parameters were the dynamic excitation, the mechanical properties of the reinforcing steel, the design ductility and the total reinforcement ratio (between 0.5 % and 0.6 %).

Staff

Prof. Dr. Hugo Bachmann (Guideance)
Dr. Pierino Lestuzzi
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Thomas Paulay
Dr. Thomas Wenk

Support

Stiftung des Vereins Schweizerischer Zement-, Kalk- und Gips-Fabrikanten VSZKGF, Zürich (Foundation of Swiss Cement Manufacturers)
Kommission für Technologie und Innovation KTI, Bern (Commission for Technology and Innovation)