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Bae 2008 Plastic-Hinge-Length-of-Reinforced-Concrete-Columns PDF
Bae 2008 Plastic-Hinge-Length-of-Reinforced-Concrete-Columns PDF
As a column experiences earthquake-induced lateral displacements concrete column. The length of a plastic hinge depends on many
while supporting gravity loads, severe damage is observed in factors. The following is a list of important factors that influence
regions subjected to large moments. These regions are commonly the length of a plastic hinge: 1) level of axial load; 2) moment
referred to as plastic hinges and they experience large inelastic gradient; 3) level of shear stress in the plastic hinge region; 4)
curvatures. The inelastic curvatures in plastic hinges are typically mechanical properties of longitudinal and transverse reinforce-
assumed to be constant over the plastic hinge length, lp , to simplify
the estimation of the tip displacement of a column. Therefore, if the
ment; 5) concrete strength; and 6) level of confinement and its
plastic hinge length is known, the tip displacement of a column can effectiveness in the potential hinge region.
easily be obtained by integrating curvatures, and vice versa. As In the 1950s and 1960s, researchers1-5 studied lp to estimate
part of the research reported in this paper, the effects of axial load the flexural deformation capacity of reinforced concrete
and shear span-depth ratio (L/ h) on lp are evaluated experimen- beams. To estimate the flexural deformation capacity, the
tally. Based on the experimental observations, a new analytical plastic rotation capacity and the lp are used
approach that can be used to estimate lp is presented. Finally, the
research findings are synthesized into a simple expression that can cu ce
be used to estimate lp. p = -------------------
- lp (1)
c
Keywords: axial load; deformation capacity; plastic hinge length.
Park and Paulay11 extended this concept to a cantilever
INTRODUCTION column. They simplified the curvature distribution along the
Numerous researchers1-10 have suggested various length of a column using a plastic hinge (Fig. 1). Using the
expressions that can be used to estimate the plastic hinge length second moment area theorem, they calculated the tip
lp of concrete members. Large differences exist among different displacement of a column (Eq. (2))
expressions, however, and the performance of different expres-
sions in estimating lp has not been evaluated systematically. y L
2
This paper presents test results from four full-scale tip = y + p = ----------
- + ( y )l p ( L 0.5l p ) (2)
concrete columns. In addition, the effect of axial load and 3
shear span-depth ratio (L/h, where L is the height of a canti-
lever column and h is the overall depth of a column) on the By further simplifying Eq. (2), Park and Paulay11 obtained
lp is investigated. A concrete compression strain method to the relationship between curvature and displacement ductilities
estimate lp is proposed. Finally, a simple lp expression is (Eq. (3))
proposed and the influence of the estimated lp on the accuracy
l l
= 1 + 3 ( 1 ) ---p 1 0.5 ---p
of lateral load-drift predictions is studied.
(3)
L L
RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
Research conducted over the past three decades has Equations (2) and (3) have been commonly used to estimate
resulted in various constitutive relationships for concrete and the lp of concrete columns.6-9,12,13 It is interesting to note
reinforcing bars. As a result, the sectional behavior of that the curvature profile along the column is often related to
reinforced concrete columns can be reliably estimated. For a the tip displacement rather than flexural displacement.6-9,12,13
given sectional performance, the member behavior of a
column can be estimated if lp is known. As such, estimating
the length of a plastic hinge establishes a key step in
predicting the lateral load-drift response of a column. In this
context, the work presented herein advances the state of
knowledge: 1) by providing experimental evidence on the
effects of axial load and L/h on lp; 2) by introducing a new
concrete compression strain-based method to estimate lp;
and 3) by synthesizing the research findings into a simple
expression that can be use to estimate lp.
rotations. The shear forces at hinges are shown with black (438.15 in.) square section (L/h = 7). Figure 4 shows that the
arrows. Table 1 shows the details of the specimens tested in severely damaged regions of Specimens S24-2UT and
this research program and the magnitude of the axial load S17-3UT are longer than those of Specimens S24-4UT and
that was applied to each specimen during testing. A S24-5UT. The tie strains measured along the column specimens
detailed discussion of this experimental research can be at the 20th loading cycle in Fig. 4 also illustrate that
found elsewhere19 and is considered to be beyond the scope Specimens S24-2UT and S17-3UT experienced inelastic tie
of this paper. strains over a longer length than Specimens S24-4UT and
The damage observed within the plastic hinge region of S24-5UT. Many ties in Specimens S24-2UT and S17-3UT
each test specimen and the corresponding tie strains along experienced larger inelastic strains after the 20th loading
the columns are shown in Fig. 4. Specimens S24-2UT and cycle than the measurement limits of strain gauges. Therefore, it
S24-3UT were tested under an axial load level of 0.5Po, can be concluded that, for the specimens tested in this study,
while Specimens S24-4UT and S24-5UT were tested under lp increased as the level of axial load increased.
a lower axial load level of 0.2Po. Specimens S24-2UT, Figure 5 illustrates the sectional and member performances of
S24-4UT, and S24-5UT had 24 in. (609.6 mm) square Specimens S24-2UT and S24-4UT. Specimen S24-2UT and
sections (L/h = 5), whereas Specimen S17-3UT had a 17.25 in. S24-4UT have the same section size (h = 24 in. [610 mm]) and
l A
---p = 0.3 ----- + 3 -----s 0.1 --- + 0.25 0.25
P L
(11)
h Po A g h
Fig. 15, the use of the lp expression proposed by Park et al.6 1. In light of the experimental data on four full-scale
(lp = 0.4h) results in considerable underestimation of the drift concrete column tests, ACI 318-0523 provisions for the
capacity. In contrast, the expressions proposed by Paulay length of the potential plastic hinge regions were found to be
and Priestley8 (lp = 0.8h) and Sheikh and Khoury9 (lp = 1.0h) slightly unconservative for columns supporting high axial
result in satisfactory predictions. The same trends can be loads. Although the experimental evidence is not exhaustive,
observed for Specimen S17-3UT, as shown in Fig. 15. it may be prudent to increase the length of the region in
Results of the analyses conducted on Specimens S24-4UT which closely-spaced ties are used from 1.0h to 1.5h from
and S24-5UT are included in Fig. 16. These specimens were the joint face until further experimental evidence is gathered;
tested under low axial load levels. Figure 16 shows that the 2. The level of axial load influenced the length of the
use of the lp expression proposed by Park et al.6 (lp = 0.4h) plastic hinges that formed in the full-scale column specimens
results in a reasonably good estimation for the drift capacity. tested in this research. Specimens tested under high axial
The expressions proposed by Paulay and Priestley8 (lp = loads developed longer plastic hinges than those tested under
0.72h) and Sheikh and Khoury9 (lp = 1.0h), however, result low axial loads; and
in overestimated predictions of the drift capacity. Therefore, 3. The following equation, developed in this research, can
it can be concluded that the use of some lp expressions work be used to estimate the length of the plastic hinges forming
for high axial loads, whereas they fail to provide satisfactory in columns supporting a wide range of axial loads.
estimates for low axial loads and vice versa. The use of Eq. (11),
however, results in satisfactory predictions both for high and l A
---p = 0.3 ----- + 3 -----s 0.1 --- + 0.25 0.25
low axial load levels. In performance-based design, prediction P L
h P o A g h
of the deformation capacity of reinforced concrete columns
is important. An analysis of Fig. 15 and 16 clearly shows the
influence of the lp estimations on the drift capacity predictions. NOTATION
This analysis indicates the value of an expression that can Ab = area of balanced reinforcement
provide reasonable estimations for lp forming in columns Ag = gross area of concrete section
supporting high or low axial loads. As = area of tension reinforcement
As = area of compression reinforcement
b = width of compression face of member
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS c = distance from extreme compression fiber to neutral axis
Based on the experimental and analytical research into the d = effective depth of beam
seismic behavior of concrete columns reported in this study, db = diameter of longitudinal reinforcement
the following conclusions can be drawn: fc = compressive strength of concrete