ON HIGH-FREQUENCY SEISMIC MOTIONS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES

Abstract

In relation to disastrous damage of reinforced concrete (RC) columns due to recent Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, high-frequency behavior of RC beams subjected to impact loading is reexamined. Thus, the effect of high-frequency horizontal motions on the columns is inclusively studied, solving RC beams in the elastic range by BEM. From the dimensional analysis, it is suggested that the local failure mode of the columns due to horizontal motions could result from high-frequency earthquakes over 10Hz. The stress analysis suggests spalling failure of cover concrete due to high-frequency bending motions and the high shear stress zone localized at one end due to the higher frequency motions.