Efficient Modeling Scheme for Transient Analysis of Inelastic RC Structures

Simple modeling schemes for efficient and reliable analysis of reinforced concrete structures in the inelastic range are presented. The objective of the modeling techniques is to represent overall behavior in terms of macromodels. A reinforced concrete structure is discretized into a series of macroelements: beam columns, shear walls, and general-purpose inelastic springs. Each element macro-model is developed from distributed flexibility concepts in which the effects of spread plasticity are implicitly included. Nonlinear material behavior is specified by means of hysteretic force-deformation models that incorporate stiffness degradation, strength deterioration, and pinching or bondslip effects. The models are incorporated into a microcomputer program that is capable of analyzing two-dimensional or entire three-dimensional wall-frame systems that can be discretized into a series of interconnected parallel frames. Solution modules for nonlinear static, monotonic, quasistatic cyclic, and transient seismic loads are developed. The efficiency and reliability of the modeling are demonstrated in terms of its effectiveness in reproducing experimentally observed behavior.