The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

Reinforced concrete flat plates under lateral loading: an experimental study including biaxial effects

Pan, Austin P.; Moehle, Jack P.

UCB/EERC-88/16, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 1988-10, 262 pages (530/P23/1988)

Slab-column subassemblages, modeled after a reinforced concrete flat plate building, are tested under combined gravity and lateral loads. Different levels of gravity loads were applied and biaxial lateral loading is compared with uniaxial loading. To study the behavior of a repaired connection, one test was repeated after the slab-column specimen was repaired with epoxy and grout. The post-failure behavior of slab-column connections is investigated, and the adequacy of bottom slab reinforcement detailing to prevent progressive collapse is assessed. Existing strength and lateral stiffness models are compared with the experimental results. Data from past research is collected to investigate the ductility and drift capacity of slab-column connections. Studies are conducted on the seismic response of reinforced concrete buildings with flat slab construction. Nonlinear dynamic analyses are performed on five typical building systems. A simple seismic design recommendation is proposed for slab-column connections that limits the level of gravity shear to ensure minimal drift capacity.

Available online: http://nisee.berkeley.edu/documents/EERC/EERC-88-16.pdf (15 MB)