• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.139-148
• /
• 2023

The purpose of this paper is to numerically assess the seismic performance of deteriorated reinforced concrete columns using a new plastic-hinge element. Developing a three dimensional (3D) nonlinear model can be difficult and computationally complex, and there can be problems applying it in the field. Thus, to solve these problems, a plastic-hinge element that could considers the shear deformation of deteriorated reinforced concrete columns was proposed. The developed element was based on the Timoshenko beam model and used two nodes with six degrees of freedom and a zero-length element. Moreover, the developed model could consider the combined effects of corrosion, as demonstrated by the reduced reinforcement area and the loss of bond. Consequently, the numerical procedures developed for evaluating the seismic performance of deteriorated columns were validated by comparing the verification results.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.663-681
• /
• 2012

This paper presents a parametric study of the plastic hinge length of circular reinforced concrete columns using a three-dimensional finite element analysis method, and using the Taguchi robust design method to reduce computational cost. Parameters examined include the longitudinal reinforcing ratio, the shear span-to-depth ratio, the axial force ratio and the concrete compressive strength. The study considers longitudinal reinforcement with yield strengths of 414 MPa and 685 MPa, and proposes simplified formulas for the plastic hinge length of circular reinforced concrete columns, showing that increases in plastic hinge length correlate to increases in the axial load, longitudinal reinforcing and shear span-to-depth ratios. As concrete strength increases, the plastic hinge length decreases for the 414 MPa case but increases for the 685 MPa case.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.579-596
• /
• 2016

This paper describes a method of the refined plastic hinge approach in the framework of the higher-order element formulation that can efficaciously evaluate the limit state capacity of a whole reinforced concrete structural system using least number of element(s), whereas the traditional design of a reinforced concrete structure (i.e. AS3600; Eurocode 2) is member-based approach. Hence, in regard to the material nonlinearities, the efficient and economical cross-section analysis is provided to evaluate the element section capacity of non-uniform and arbitrary concrete section subjected to the interaction effects, which is helpful to formulate the refined plastic hinge method. In regard to the geometric nonlinearities, this paper relies on the higher-order element formulation with element load effect. Eventually, the load redistribution can be considered and make full use of the strength reserved owing to the redundancy of an indeterminate structure. And it is particularly true for the performance-based design of a structure under the extreme loads, while the uncertainty of the extreme load is great that the true behaviour of a whole structural system is important for the economical design approach, which is great superiority over the conservative optimal strength of an individual and isolated member based on traditional design (i.e. AS3600; Eurocode 2).

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.767-778
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate how a fully restrained bolted beam splice affects the connection behavior as a column-tree connection in steel special moment frames under cyclic loading when located within the plastic hinge zone. The impacts of this attachment in protected zone are observed by using nonlinear finite element analyses. This type of splice connection is designed as slip-critical connection and thereby, the possible effects of slippage of the bolts due to a possible loss of pretension in the bolts are also investigated. The 3D models with solid elements that have been developed includes three types of connections which are the connection having fully restrained beam splice located in the plastic hinge location, the connection having fully restrained beam splice located out of the plastic hinge and the connection without beam splice. All connection models satisfied the requirement for the special moment frame connections providing sufficient flexural resistance, determined at column face stated in AISC 341-16. In the connection model having fully restrained beam splice located in the plastic hinge, due to the pretension loss in the bolts, the friction force on the contact surfaces is exceeded, resulting in a relative slip. The reduction in the energy dissipation capacity of the connection is observed to be insignificant. The possibility of the crack occurrence around the bolt holes closest to the column face is found to be higher for the splice connection within the protected zone.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.69 no.6
• /
• pp.651-665
• /
• 2019

Past earthquakes have shown that appropriately designed and detailed buildings with shear walls have great performance such a way that a considerable portion of inelastic energy dissipation occurs in these structural elements. A plastic hinge is fundamentally an energy diminishing means which decrease seismic input energy through the inelastic deformation. Plastic hinge development in a RC shear wall in the areas which have plastic behavior depends on the ground motions characteristics as well as shear wall details. One of the most generally used forms of structural walls is flanged RC wall. Because of the flanges, these types of shear walls have large in-plane and out-of-plane stiffness and develop high shear stresses. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the main characteristics of these structural components and provide a more comprehensive expression of plastic hinge length in the application of performance-based seismic design method and promote the development of seismic design codes for shear walls. In this regard, the effects of axial load level, wall height, wall web and flange length, as well as various features of earthquakes, are examined numerically by finite element methods and the outcomes are compared with consistent experimental data. Based on the results, a new expression is developed which can be utilized to determine the length of plastic hinge area in the flanged RC shear walls.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2003

In this paper, the refined plastic-hinge analysis accounting for the effect of strain reversal caused by non-proportional loading is developed. This analysis accounts for material and geometric nonlinearities of the structural system and its component members. Moreover, the problem, conventional refined plastic-hinge analyses have underestimated the strength of structures subjected to non-proportional loading, is overcome. The modified stiffness degradation model approximating the effect of strain reversal is discussed in detail. The proposed analysis is verified by the comparison of the finite element analysis. A case study shows that the effect of strain reversal is a very crucial element to be considered in second-order plastic-hinge analysis. The proposed analysis is shown to be an efficient, reliable tool ready to be implemented into design practice.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.21-34
• /
• 2002

A model of the process of local buckling in tubular steel structural elements is presented. It is assumed that this degrading phenomenon can be lumped at plastic hinges. The model is therefore based on the concept of plastic hinge combined with the methods of continuum damage mechanics. The state of this new kind of inelastic hinge is characterized by two internal variables: the plastic rotation and the damage. The model is valid if only one local buckling appears in the plastic hinge region; for instance, in the case of framed structures subjected to monotonic loadings. Based on this damage model, a new finite element that can describe the development of local buckling is proposed. The element is the assemblage of an elastic beamcolumn and two inelastic hinges at its ends. The stiffness matrix, that depends on the level of damage, the yielding function and the damage evolution law of the two hinges define the new finite element. In order to verify model and finite element, several small-scale frames were tested in laboratory under monotonic loading. A lateral load at the top of the frame was applied in a stroke-controlled mode until local buckling appears and develops in several locations of the frame and its ultimate capacity was reached. These tests were simulated with the new finite element and comparison between model and test is presented and discussed.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.5 no.6
• /
• pp.679-702
• /
• 2013

During an earthquake, soils filter and send out the shaking to the building and simultaneously it has the role of bearing the building vibrations and transmitting them back to the ground. In other words, the ground and the building interact with each other. Hence, soil-structure interaction (SSI) is a key parameter that affects the performance of buildings during the earthquakes and is worth to be taken into consideration. Columns are one of the most crucial elements in RC buildings that play an important role in stability of the building and must be able to dissipate energy under seismic loads. Recent earthquakes showed that formation of plastic hinges in columns is still possible as a result of strong ground motion, despite the application of strong column-weak beam concept, as recommended by various design codes. Energy is dissipated through the plastic deformation of specific zones at the end of a member without affecting the rest of the structure. The formation of a plastic hinge in an RC column in regions that experience inelastic actions depends on the column details as well as soil-structure interaction (SSI). In this paper, 854 different scenarios have been analyzed by inelastic time-history analyses to predict the nonlinear behavior of RC columns considering soil-structure interaction (SSI). The effects of axial load, height over depth ratio, main period of soil and structure as well as different characteristics of earthquakes, are evaluated analytically by finite element methods and the results are compared with corresponding experimental data. Findings from this study provide a simple expression to estimate plastic hinge length of RC columns including soil-structure interaction.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.135-148
• /
• 2007

A new finite shear wall element model and a method for calculation of 3D multi-storied only shear walled or shear walled - framed structures using finite shear wall elements assumed ideal elasto - plastic material are developed. The collapse load of the system subjected to factored constant gravity loads and proportionally increasing lateral loads is calculated with a method of load increments. The shape functions over the element are determined as a cubic variation along the story height and a linear variation in horizontal direction because of the rigid behavior of the floor slab. In case shear walls are chosen as only one element in every floor, correct solutions are obtained by using this developed element. Because of the rigid behavior of the floor slabs, the number of unknowns are reduced substantially. While in framed structures, classical plastic hinge hypothesis is used, in nodes of shear wall elements when vertical deformation parameter is exceeded ${\varepsilon}_e$, this node is accepted as a plastic node. While the system is calculated with matrix displacement method, for determination of collapse safety, plastic displacements and plastic deformations are taken as additional unknowns. Rows and columns are added to the system stiffness matrix for additional unknowns.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.381-388
• /
• 2018

This paper presents a generalized finite element formulation for plastic hinge modeling based on lumped plasticity in the classical Euler-Bernoulli beam elements. In this approach, the plastic hinges are effectively modeled using proper enrichment functions describing weak discontinuities of the solution. The proposed methodology enables the insertion of plastic hinges at an arbitrary location without modifying the connectivity of elements. The formations of plastic hinges are instead achieved by hierarchically adding degrees of freedom to existing elements. Convergence analyses such as h- and p-extensions are performed to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The analysis results indicate that the proposed generalized finite element method can achieve theoretical convergence rates for both cases where plastic hinges are located at nodes and within an element, thus demonstrating its accuracy.