• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.241-252
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• 1998

The objective of the research stated herein is to observe the actual responses of a low-rise nonseismic moment-resisting reinforced concrete frame subjected to varied levels of earthquake ground motions. First, the reduction scale for the model was determined as 1 : 5 considering the capacity of the shaking table to be used and the model was manufactured according to the similitude law. This model was, then, subjected to the shaking table motions simulating Taft N21E component earthquake ground motions, whose peak ground accelations (PGAs) were modified to 0.12g, 0.2g, 0.3g, and 0.4g. The lateral accelerations and displacements at each story and local deformations at the critical reginos of the structure were measured. The base shear was measured by using self-made load cells. Before and after each earthquake simulation test, free vibration tests were performed to find the change in the natural period and damping ratio of the model. The test data on the global and local behaviors are interpreted. The model showed the linear elastic behavior under the Taft N21E motion with the PGA if 0.12g, which represents the design earthquake in Korea. The maximum base shear was 1.8tf, approximately 4.7 times the design base shear. The model revealed fairly good resistance to the higher level of earthquake simulation tests. The main components of its resistance to the high level of earthquakes appeared to be 1) the high overstrength, 2) the elongation of the fundamental period, and 3) the minor energy dissipation by inelastic deformations. The drifts of the model under these tests were approximately within the allowable limit.