Validation of the seismic performance of composite RCS frames: Full-scale testing analysis and seismic design

Composite RCS moment frames integrate reinforced concrete columns with structural steel beams, providing several key advantages over conventional steel or concrete moment resisting frames. Past studies have shown these composite systems to be efficient in both the design and construction stages, but it has largely been recognized that tests and complementary analyses on full structural systems is needed to further validate the knowledge that had been gained up to this point. The underlining goal of this research program is to fill this knowledge gap and ultimately facilitate the greater acceptance and use of composite RCS systems for seismic design. This research synthesizes and interprets some of the latest provisions and past studies on RCS systems and applies the accumulated knowledge to (1) develop and validate improved seismic design provisions for RCS frames, (2) assess and demonstrate the seismic performance of RCS frames through full-scale frame testing and simulations of prototype building systems, and (3) develop and validate modeling guidelines for nonlinear analysis and performance simulation. The cornerstone of this research is the planning, design and testing of a full-scale composite RCS moment frame that is pseudo-dynamically loaded to simulate earthquake motions ranging in hazards from frequent to extremely rare events. In addition to the direct benefits of the test results, the frame and supporting subassembly tests provide a rich data set for the validation of nonlinear analysis and damage models.; Designed to interrogate the minimum limits of current building code requirements, the full-scale test frame exhibited excellent seismic performance up through the maximum considered earthquake level. The damage patterns after each pseudo-dynamic earthquake event were representative of the performance expected in moment resisting frames designed by current building codes. The results from the test frame and the simulation of corresponding case-study buildings have several important implications on design and analytical modeling of composite moment resisting frames.