Effect of floor slabs on the seismic Performance of reinforced concrete Frames

Abstract

In monolithic reinforced concrete structures, portions of the floor newlineslabs act as flanges to the girders thereby increasing the strength and stiffness newlineof the girders The question of how much the slab contributes to the lateral newlinestrength is very important for the design of structures therefore this study newlinefocused the effect of slabs at the joints in moment frame structures subjected newlineto large seismic deformations newlineThe main objective of this research was to identify the floor slab newlineeffect on building seismic performance To fulfill this objective a research newlineprogram that included an extensive literature review design of beam column newlinejoints experimental testing and finite element analysis was undertaken Four newlineinterior beam column subassemblies one without a slab and others having newlinefloor slabs of varied slab parameters were tested under static displacement newlinecontrolled cyclic loading The design philosophy adopted in this study was to newlinehave a strong column strong joint and weak beam Applying this philosophy newlineto connection is to ensure that all yielding would occur only in the beams newlinewhile the joints and columns remain elastic and without bond deterioration newlinebetween the reinforcing bars and concrete Formation of the plastic hinges at newlinethe beam ends near the column face without bond deterioration will produce newlinethe beam elongation phenomena due to concrete cracking and yielding of the newlinemain reinforcement under reversed cyclic loading This was very clearly seen newlinein the 2010 2011 Canterbury earthquakes newline newline