Component damage functions for reinforced concrete frame structures

Displacement-based damage functions for the components of reinforced concrete (RC) moment resisting frames have been developed. RC columns, beams and brick infills were considered in this study as the structural elements that contribute to the seismic behavior of RC moment resisting frames. Finite element analyses were carried out on RC columns and beams to investigate effects of their material and geometrical properties on the behavior of these elements, and also to develop the damage functions. The independent parameter used in the damage functions developed for RC columns was the interstorey drift ratio, while rotation was used as the main parameter to evaluate damage in RC beams. The equivalent strut models available in the literature were used to determine the parameters affecting the damageability of brick infills and to develop drift-based damage functions. Additional damage functions for shear critical RC columns and beams were also developed. The damage functions proposed were validated via comparison to the test results available in the literature. These damage functions are proposed to be used for the seismic performance evaluation of RC moment resisting frames.