Non‐linear models for simulating the dynamic damaging process of low‐rise reinforced concrete buildings during severe earthquakes

This paper is a study of idealizing a planar reinforced concrete frame as a non‐linear dynamic system for the purpose of simulating its inelastic behaviour during severe earthquakes. After having estimated the restoring force characteristics of all constituent members by experimental means (represented, for example, by a group of empirical equations), it is possible to estimate the non‐linear characteristics of the complete structure and to trace the damaging process for each constituent member under a given ground motion disturbance. However, this technique, which is directly based on member‐level properties, generally requires rather laborious computational procedures; for practical reasons it is necessary to develop a simplified model, reducing the required calculation without losing the substance of the mechanical phenomena. Thus the reliability of simplification by conventional shear modelling is examined in direct comparison with the response results from rigorous modelling. It is concluded that the shear modelling generally yields an inadequate and, in many cases, erroneous result. The primary cause leading to this discrepancy is identified and, based on this discussion, a more appropriate modelling as simple as conventional shear modelling is proposed.