Nonlinear Simulation of Reinforced Concrete Moment Resisting Frames under Earthquakes

The main purpose of this paper is to study analytically the behavior of reinforced concrete frames under earthquakes and to develop a nonlinear finite element beam-column joint model and a moment resisting frame model. The analytical frame model was implemented using the commercial software SeismoStruct. All details of the reinforced concrete beam-column joint model used in the analysis were described and verified with the available experimental test results conducted by other researchers. To check the accuracy of the reinforced concrete frame model, it was verified with the dynamic time history test of three-bays, four-stories frame structure. The results proved that both beam-column joint and the moment resisting frame models can simulate the seismic behavior with accepted accuracy.