Post-elastic behaviour of reinforced concrete frame-wall components and assemblages subjected to simulated seismic loading

This thesis investigates aspects of the behaviour of reinforced concrete frame-wall components and assemblages under high intensity simulated seismic loading. An experimental study was made of the post-elastic behaviour of four beam-column specimens and two 7 storey x 1 bay reinforced concrete framewall specimens. The observed responses of the specimens were used for both direct assessment of the response characteristics and for evaluating a computer program developed for analysing the response of ductile reinforced concrete structures under post-elastic cyclic loading. Two of the beam-wall specimens and the two frame-wall specimens were loaded through very large displacement cycles in the final stages of the tests to observe their failure modes. Subsequent to the experimental work a static frame analysis computer program was developed to model the behaviour of reinforced concrete frame-wall components and assemblages under large displacement post-elastic load reversals. The program utilizes an inelastic "layered" section analysis procedure to evaluate member responses. This is capable of modelling accurately softening of the section responses due to Bauschinger effect in the steel. Models were also developed for evaluating inelastic anchorage deformations at the ends of members and inelastic sliding shear deformations in plastic hinge zones. In developing the computer program emphasis was placed on minimizing computation time in order to ensure that it was suitable for analysing reasonable sized frames. Emphasis was also placed on developing a stable and efficient solution procedure