Static force-based seismic analysis of reinforced concrete frames having weaker beam-column joints

Shake table tests were conducted on three 1:3 reduced scale two-story RC frames having weaker beam-column joints. The models were subjected to multi-levels input acceleration time histories to understand the seismic behaviour of test models. The models incurred severe damages in beam-column joint panels, forming shear hinging in joint panels, and were found in the incipient collapse state under input excitation below the design level excitation. Elastic hypothetical structures were considered having fundamental frequency that of test structures, which were subjected to actually recorded input excitation, in order to assess the seismic demands (base shear force and lateral roof displacement) using simplified analytical static procedure. The analytically predicted demands were correlated with the measured inelastic response, in order to calculate seismic response parameters (force reduction factor R and displacement modification factors C-d). On average, R = 2.0 and Cd = 1.86 were obtained for the considered structures. The derived seismic response parameters can be employed in the analytical static force-based procedure for the seismic vulnerability assessment of RC frame structures having weaker beam-column joints. Example study is presented for the vulnerability assessment of considered structure using the proposed analytical static force procedure and the derived seismic response parameters.