Seismic behaviour of reinforced concrete frames in Australia

Abstract

Many intra-tectonic plate regions are considered to have low to moderate seismic risk. However, devastating earthquakes can occur in these regions and result in high consequences in terms of casualties and damage. This paper presents an experimental and analytical investigation to understand the seismic capacity of typically detailed Australian reinforced concrete (RC) frames. The experimental programme included a series of progressively increasing earthquake simulator tests, using base motion with design spectrum similar to that for firm soil sites in Australian design code. The analytical study consisted of inelastic time-history analyses of 3-, 5- and 12-storey RC frames with ground acceleration patterns based on artificially generated earthquake data for Boston region (on the east coast of the US). The main objectives of this research were (1) to investigate the behaviour of non-seismically designed RC frames under a 500 year return period (YRP) earthquake and (2) to determine the different magnitudes of earthquake (YRP) that are likely to cause excessive structural and nonstructural damage or collapse of gravity-load-designed (GLD) RC frames. The performance of the frames was analysed in relation to the drift limits, base shear, ductility and overstrength.