Investigating the Effect of Prior Damage on the Post-earthquake Fire Resistance of Reinforced Concrete Portal Frames

Ronagh, Hamid Reza,Behnam, Behrouz Korea Concrete Institute 2012 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.6 No.4

Post-earthquake fire (PEF) can lead to a rapid collapse of buildings that have been partially damaged as a result of a prior earthquake. Almost all standards and codes for the design of structures against earthquake ignore the risk of PEF, and thus buildings designed using those codes could be too weak when subjected to a fire after an earthquake. An investigation based on sequential analysis inspired by FEMA356 is performed here on the immediate occupancy (IO), life safety (LS) and collapse prevention (CP) performance levels of two portal frames, after they are pushed to arrive at a certain level of displacement corresponding to the mentioned performance level. This investigation is followed by a fire analysis of the damaged frames, examining the time taken for the damaged frames to collapse. As a point of reference, a fire analysis is also performed for undamaged frames and before the occurrence of earthquake. The results indicate that while there is minor difference between the fire resistances of the fire-alone situation and the frames pushed to the IO level of performance, a notable difference is observed between the fire-alone analysis and the frames pushed to arrive at LS and CP levels of performance and exposed to PEF. The results also show that exposing only the beams to fire results in a higher decline of the fire resistance, compared to exposing only the columns to fire. Furthermore, the results show that the frames pushed to arrive at LS and CP levels of performance collapse in a global collapse mode laterally, whereas at the IO level of performance and fire-alone situation, the collapse mechanism is mostly local through the collapse of beams. Whilst the investigation is conducted for a certain class of portal frames, the results confirm the need for the incorporation of PEF into the process of analysis and design, and provide some quantitative measures on the level of associated effects.

On the FE Modeling of FRP-Retrofitted Beam–Column Subassemblies

H. R. Ronagh,H. Baji 한국콘크리트학회 2014 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.8 No.2

The use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in strengthening reinforced concrete beam?column subassemblies has been scrutinised both experimentally and numerically in recent years. While a multitude of numerical models are available, and many match the experimental results reasonably well, there are not many studies that have looked at the efficiency of different finite elements in a comparative way in order to clearly identify the best practice when it comes to modelling FRP for strengthening. The present study aims at investigating this within the context of FRP retrofitted reinforced concrete beam?column subassemblies. Two programs are used side by side; ANSYS and VecTor2. Results of the finite element modeling using these two programs are compared with a recent experimental study. Different failure and yield criteria along with different element types are implemented and a useful technique, which can reduce the number of elements considerably, is successfully employed for modeling planar structures subjected to in-plane loading in ANSYS. Comparison of the results shows that there is good agreement between ANSYS and VecTor2 results in monotonic loading. However, unlike VecTor2 program, implicit version of ANSYS program is not able to properly model the cyclic behavior of the modeled subassemblies. The paper will be useful to those who wish to study FRP strengthening applications numerically as it provides an insight into the choice of the elements and the methods of modeling to achieve desired accuracy and numerical stability, a matter not so clearly explored in the past in any of the published literature.

Investigating the Effect of Prior Damage on the Post-earthquake Fire Resistance of Reinforced Concrete Portal Frames

Hamid Reza Ronagh,Behrouz Behnam 한국콘크리트학회 2012 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.6 No.4

Post-earthquake fire (PEF) can lead to a rapid collapse of buildings that have been partially damaged as a result of a prior earthquake. Almost all standards and codes for the design of structures against earthquake ignore the risk of PEF, and thus buildings designed using those codes could be too weak when subjected to a fire after an earthquake. An investigation based on sequential analysis inspired by FEMA356 is performed here on the immediate occupancy (IO), life safety (LS) and collapse prevention (CP) performance levels of two portal frames, after they are pushed to arrive at a certain level of displacement corresponding to the mentioned performance level. This investigation is followed by a fire analysis of the damaged frames, examining the time taken for the damaged frames to collapse. As a point of reference, a fire analysis is also performed for undamaged frames and before the occurrence of earthquake. The results indicate that while there is minor difference between the fire resistances of the fire-alone situation and the frames pushed to the IO level of performance, a notable difference is observed between the fire-alone analysis and the frames pushed to arrive at LS and CP levels of performance and exposed to PEF. The results also show that exposing only the beams to fire results in a higher decline of the fire resistance, compared to exposing only the columns to fire. Furthermore, the results show that the frames pushed to arrive at LS and CP levels of performance collapse in a global collapse mode laterally, whereas at the IO level of performance and fire-alone situation, the collapse mechanism is mostly local through the collapse of beams. Whilst the investigation is conducted for a certain class of portal frames, the results confirm the need for the incorporation of PEF into the process of analysis and design, and provide some quantitative measures on the level of associated effects.

Numerical modelling for monitoring the hysteretic behaviour of CFRP-retrofitted RC exterior beam-column joints

Mahini, Seyed S.,Ronagh, Hamid R. Techno-Press 2011 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.38 No.1

This paper presents the results of a study on the capability of nonlinear quasi-static finite element modelling in simulating the hysteretic behaviour of CFRP and GFRP-retrofitted RC exterior beam-column joints under cyclic loads. Four specimens including two plain and two CFRP/GFRP-strengthened beam-column joints tested by Mahini and Ronagh (2004) and other researchers are modelled using ANSYS. Concrete in compression is defined by the modified Hognestad model and anisotropic multi-linear model is employed for modelling the stress-strain relations in reinforcing bars while anisotropic plasticity is considered for the FRP composite. Both concrete and FRP are modelled using solid elements whereas space link elements are used for steel bars considering a perfect bond between materials. A step by step load increment procedure to simulate the cyclic loading regime employed in the testing. An automatically reforming stiffness matrix strategy is used in order to simulate the actual seismic performance of the RC concrete after cracking, steel yielding and concrete crushing during the push and pull loading cycles. The results show that the hysteretic simulation for all specimens is satisfactory and therefore suggest that the numerical model can be used as an inexpensive tool to design of FRP-strengthened RC beam-column joints under cyclic loads.

Numerical modelling for monitoring the hysteretic behaviour of CFRP-retrofitted RC exterior beam-column joints

Seyed S. Mahini,Hamid R. Ronagh 국제구조공학회 2011 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.38 No.1

This paper presents the results of a study on the capability of nonlinear quasi-static finite element modelling in simulating the hysteretic behaviour of CFRP and GFRP-retrofitted RC exterior beam-column joints under cyclic loads. Four specimens including two plain and two CFRP/GFRPstrengthened beam-column joints tested by Mahini and Ronagh (2004) and other researchers are modelled using ANSYS. Concrete in compression is defined by the modified Hognestad model and anisotropic multi-linear model is employed for modelling the stress-strain relations in reinforcing bars while anisotropic plasticity is considered for the FRP composite. Both concrete and FRP are modelled using solid elements whereas space link elements are used for steel bars considering a perfect bond between materials. A step by step load increment procedure to simulate the cyclic loading regime employed in the testing. An automatically reforming stiffness matrix strategy is used in order to simulate the actual seismic performance of the RC concrete after cracking, steel yielding and concrete crushing during the push and pull loading cycles. The results show that the hysteretic simulation for all specimens is satisfactory and therefore suggest that the numerical model can be used as an inexpensive tool to design of FRPstrengthened RC beam-column joints under cyclic loads.

Methodology for investigating the behavior of reinforced concrete structures subjected to post earthquake fire

Behnam, Behrouz,Ronagh, Hamid R.,Baji, Hassan Techno-Press 2013 Advances in concrete construction Vol.1 No.1

Post earthquake fire (PEF) can lead to the collapse of buildings that are partially damaged in a prior ground-motion that occurred immediately before the fire. The majority of standards and codes for the design of structures against earthquake ignore the possibility of PEF and thus buildings designed with those codes could be too weak when subjected to a fire after an earthquake. An investigation based on sequential analysis inspired by FEMA356 is performed here on the Life-Safety performance level of structures designed to the ACI 318-08 code after they are subjected to two different earthquake levels with PGA of 0.35 g and 0.25 g. This is followed by a four-hour fire analysis of the weakened structure, from which the time it takes for the weakened structure to collapse is calculated. As a benchmark, the fire analysis is also performed for undamaged structure and before occurrence of earthquake. The results show that the vulnerability of structures increases dramatically when a previously damaged structure is exposed to PEF. The results also show the damaging effects of post earthquake fire are exacerbated when initiated from second and third floor. Whilst the investigation is for a certain class of structures (regular building, intermediate reinforced structure, 3 stories), the results confirm the need for the incorporation of post earthquake fire in the process of analysis and design and provides some quantitative measures on the level of associated effects.

Post-Earthquake Fire Performance-based Behavior of Unprotected Moment Resisting 2D Steel Frames

Behrouz Behnam,Hamid Reza Ronagh 대한토목학회 2015 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.19 No.1

Post-Earthquake Fire (PEF) can lead to the collapse of buildings that are partially damaged in a prior earthquake that occurredimmediately before the fire. The majority of standards and codes for the design of structures against earthquake ignore the possibilityof PEF and thus buildings designed with those codes fail prematurely when subjected to PEF. A sequential analysis based onFEMA356 is performed here on the Immediate Occupancy (IO), corresponding to a structure designed as school occupancy, and LifeSafety (LS) performance levels, corresponding to a structure designed as reside ntial occupancy, of two steel moment resistingframes. These frames are first subjected to an earthquake load with the PGA of 0.35g. This is followed by a fire analysis, using boththe ISO834 model and the Natural fire model. The time it takes for the structure weakened by the earthquake to collapse under fire isthen calculated. As a point of reference, fire only analyses are also performed for the undamaged structures. The results show thatearthquake weakened structures are more vulnerable to fire than undamaged structures. The results also show that both fire resistanceand PEF resistance of the frame designed as school are more than the frame designed as residential. Whilst the investigation is for acertain class of structures (steel moment resisting frames, 5 stories), the results confirm the need for the incorporation of PEF in theprocess of analysis and design and provides some quantitative measures on the level of associated effects.

Probabilistic models for curvature ductility and moment redistribution of RC beams

Hassan Baji,Hamid Reza Ronagh 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2015 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.16 No.2

It is generally accepted that, in the interest of safety, it is essential to provide a minimum level of flexural ductility, which will allow energy dissipation and moment redistribution as required. If one wishes to be uniformly conservative across all of the design variables, curvature ductility and moment redistribution factor should be calculated using a probabilistic method, as is the case for other design parameters in reinforced concrete mechanics. In this study, simple expressions are derived for the evaluation of curvature ductility and moment redistribution factor, based on the concept of demand and capacity rotation. Probabilistic models are then derived for both the curvature ductility and the moment redistribution factor, by means of central limit theorem and through taking advantage of the specific behaviour of moment redistribution factor as a function of curvature ductility and plastic hinge length. The Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) method is used to check and verify the results of the proposed method. Although some minor simplifications are made in the proposed method, there is a very good agreement between the MCS and the proposed method. The proposed method could be used in any future probabilistic evaluation of curvature ductility and moment redistribution factors.

Seismic risk assessment of deficient reinforced concrete frames in near-fault regions

Cao, Vui Van,Ronagh, Hamid Reza,Baji, Hassan Techno-Press 2014 Advances in concrete construction Vol.2 No.4

In many parts of the world, reinforced concrete (RC) buildings, designed and built in accordance with older codes, have suffered severe damage or even collapse as a result of recent near-fault earthquakes. This is particularly due to the deficiencies of most of the older (and even some of the recent) codes in dealing with near fault events. In this study, a tested three-storey frame designed for gravity loads only was selected to represent those deficient buildings. Nonlinear time history analyses were performed, followed by damage assessment procedures. The results were compared with experimental observation of the same frame showing a good match. Damage and fragility analyses of the frame subjected to 204 pulse-type motions were then performed using a selected damage model and inter-storey drifts. The results showed that the frame located in near-fault regions is extremely vulnerable to ground motions. The results also showed that the damage model better captures the damage distribution in the frame than inter-storey drifts. The first storey was identified as the most fragile and the inner columns of the first storey suffered most damage as indicated by the damage index. The findings would be helpful in the decision making process prior to the strengthening of buildings in near-fault regions.

Elastic distortional buckling of tapered composite beams

Bradford, M.A.,Ronagh, H.R. Techno-Press 1997 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.5 No.3

The overall buckling mode in a composite steel-concrete beam over an internal support is necessarily lateral-distortional, in which the bottom compressive range displaces laterally and twists, since the top flange is restrained by the nearly rigid concrete slab. An efficient finite element method is used to study elastic lateral-distortional buckling in composite beams whose steel portion is tapered. The simplified model for a continuous beam that is presented herein is a fixed ended cantilever whose steel portion is tapered, and is subjected to moment gradient. This is intended to give an insight into distortion in a continuous beam that occurs in the negative bending region, and the differences between the cantilever representation and the continuous beam are highlighted. An eigenproblem is established, and the buckling modes and loads are determined in the elastic range of structural response. It is found from the finite element study that the buckling moment may be enhanced significantly by using a vertical stiffener in the region where the lateral movement of the bottom range is greatest. This enhancement is quantified in the paper.