Experimental and Numerical Study of a 3-Story RC Building Part

Dynamic Response

I. Iskhakov and Y. Ribakov*

College of Judea and Samaria, Ariel, 44837, Israel
*
Humboldt Research Fellow, Institut for Structural Concrete, University of Leipzig, Germany

ABSTRACT: Structural dynamic characteristics can be determined in an experimental way by testing

full-scale structures. Experimentally obtained vibration periods, vibration modes, damping ratios and
other parameters are often used to verify theoretical results. The most important advantage of the
experimental parameters determination is that the structural characteristics can be determined for
linear and nonlinear structures. This feature enables to investigate the changes in the structural
dynamic properties during real nonlinear structural behavior under earthquakes or other dynamic
loads. Knowing the structural dynamic parameters enables to get information on its load capacity and
estimate the dynamic response. The paper describes a test carried out on a three-story RC frame. A
beamless precast frame was subjected to vibration and impulse loads. An increase of inelastic
deformations yielded a considerable reduction in the frame inertia forces. Using a friction pendulum
base isolation system resulted in further structural response improvement.

1. INTRODUCTION

Dynamic testing of parts of a structure permit determination of the real dynamic parameters of the
system as a whole, such as the natural period, vibration modes, damping ratio etc. A positive feature of
the experimental approach is the possibility of estimating nonlinear deformations. Impulse tests permit
determination of the reserve dynamic load capacity and ultimate deformations of a building and yield
a general picture of its dynamic behavior within the present structural scheme.

2. STRUCTURAL SCHEME OF THE TESTED PART

A part of a 3-story building with a beamless frame structural system was used (Iskhakov et al., 1991).
This part consisted of two columns, three floors high, and three slabs. The columns were fixed in
sockets of a raft foundation with 30 cm thickness. The precast slab was constructed in the scheme as
two over-column plates plus a between-columns one with thickness 16 cm (Fig. 1). The overall
dimensions of the building part were 3 9 m, the height of each story - 3 m. Spatial rigidity was
provided by the precast-monolithic realization of the beamless frame system with rigid joints.

3. IMPULSE TEST PROCEDURE

In the test dynamic loads were applied in the form of impulses to the column - slab joint at the roof
floor in the plane of the frame. The impulse was achieved by means of a guy cable, in the subsequent
instantaneous application of the load (Fig. 2). The corresponding forces were controlled by rupture of
a steel bar.
Under the instantaneous thrust load the testing frame acquired a reactive dynamic force and
underwent attenuated vibration.
For measuring the vibration periods and modes, two seismoreceivers were located horizontally in
the plane of the frame at each floor and also at the ground.
 A hook was installed across the top of the of the third-floor column with a wire for pulling the
frame. One end of the wire in the tests was tied to the hook and the other end to a bulldozer, tensioned
the wire to failure.

Figure 1. Structural scheme of tested part.

The impulse tests were carried out in steps. The first step consisted in recording of microseismic
vibration of the frame, followed by dynamic tests under forces of 30 kN and 70 kN and by
application of a vertical static live load 3.84 kN/m2 at the slabs. In the second step the statically-loaded
frame was subjected to dynamic forces of 30, 70 and 106 kN. The peak horizontal roof displacements
of the frame were 45, 110 and 175 mm respectively. In the third step the statically loaded frame was
subjected to forces of 34, 77 and 110 kN. In the last case the peak horizontal roof displacement was
200 mm. Under the 77 kN load cracks developed in the slabs, under 110 kN - in the columns.

Figure 2.Application of impulse to test part.

4. BASIC EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

The microseismic records brought out three modes of vibration with the following periods: T1 = 0.6 s,
T2 = 0.16 s, T3 = 0.06 s. By impulse force 30 kN were recorded the following ones: T1 = 0.8 s, T2
= 0.16 s. On transition from 30 to 70 kN the periods of the first and second modes increased by 20%.
The third mode was recorded with a period 0.11 s. In the last step of the impulse tests under 77 kN
the periods were T1 = 1.35 s and T2 = 0.3 s (Fig. 3).

Figure 3. Experimental vibration periods.

The natural periods of the frame are clearly seen to depend on the impulse load, which indicates
that nonlinear vibration developed.
 Impulse Force, kN

Figure 4. Experimental vibration amplitudes.

Fig. 4 shows the experimental relation between the maximal horizontal amplitude of the frame
and the applied dynamic loads, which ranged from 30 to 110 kN. It should be noted that the nonlinear
vibration occurs if the impulse load is 70 kN or more (see Fig. 3).
In the test floor accelerations were also recorded (Fig. 5).
1

Time Step = 0.02 s, Impulse Force = 70 kN, 1 - Roof Accelerations

Figure 5. Dynamic test records.

Under the 70 kN load the acceleration was 0.35g, equivalent to a strong earthquake. Thus, under
impulse forces ranged between 70 and 110 kN the frame behaved as a geometrically and physically
nonlinear system.
The damping ratio of the frame was 0.1, its maximal velocity - 20 cm/s.
5. NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON WITH EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

The vibration periods of the frame where compared to those of the experimental microseismic
vibrations results (step 1). After that, the response of the statically loaded frame to the impulse loads
of 30, 77 and 110 kN, respectively, was calculated for concrete with Young’s modulus Ec = Ec0 =
30,000 MPa (step 2) and Ec = 0.8 Ec0 (step 3). The theoretical and experimental values of the vibration
periods are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Vibration periods of building part, s

Loading steps Theoretical results Experimental results

1 0.83 0.80
2 1.39 0.96
3 1.73 1.35

The increase in the vibration periods is unambiguous evidence of nonlinear deformations in the
frame. In order to reduce this nonlinearity, it was decided to use a base isolation system (Al -
Hussaini et al., 1994), which should be designed so that the overall roof displacement would be less
then or equal to that of the base-fixed structure (obtained in the tests). The Base Isolation System
(BIS) will also reduce the energy, dissipated in the structural elements in the course of their nonlinear
behavior.
The parameters of the BIS were chosen for step 3. It was assumed that the maximal permissible
displacement at the base isolators is 5 cm.
The results of the numerical analysis and the corresponding experimental data are given in (Fig.
6). The experiments showed that as the impulse load increased the displacements also increased,
nonlinearly. The discrepancy between these data and the theoretical results are less that 10% for the
base-isolated structure. The BIS makes for reduction of the interstory drifts without increase in the
roof displacement. This makes for reduced nonlinearity of the deformation, which in turn means
reduced risk for damage and failure of the elements.

Figure 6. Dynamic displacements of the frame.

6. CONCLUSIONS

A dynamic test of a structural part under different impulse loads was carried out and its displacements
and natural periods were obtained. For larger dynamic loading these periods were increased, and some
of the structural elements were damaged.
A base isolation system was implemented in order to reduce the influence of large nonlinear
deformations. Numerical analysis of the structural part was carried out for dynamic load of 30, 77 and
110 kN, showing that the theoretical natural periods are close to those obtained in the experiments.
The calculated values of the peak roof displacements were also similar to the experimental
results, but the inter-story drifts in the structural part with the BIS were smaller compared to those in
the base-fixed one.
This result indicates significantly reduced damage to the structural elements. Hence, the BIS
improves structure safety under the same dynamic loads.

REFERENCES

Al - Hussaini, T. M., Zayas, V. A., and Constantinou, M. C., (1994) “Seismic Isolation of Multi-Story
Frame Structures Using Special Sliding Isolation Systems”, Technical Report NCEER-94-0007,
State University of New York at Buffalo.
Iskhakov, I., and El - Gohari, H., (1991) “Dynamic Behavior of the Fragment of 3 - Stories Precast
Beamless RC Frame”, Engineering Research Bulletin, University of Helwan, Cairo, Egypt, vol. 6.