Seismic Analysis of Older Reinforced Concrete Columns

A nonlinear model and an analytical procedure for calculating the cyclic response of nonductile reinforced concrete columns are presented. The main characteristics of the model include the ability to represent flexure or shear failure under monotonically increasing or reversed cyclic loading. Stiffness degradation with cyclic loading can also be represented. The model was implemented in a multipurpose analysis program and was used to calculate the response of selected columns representative of older construction. A comparison of the calculated response with experimental results shows that the strength, failure mode and general characteristics of the measured cyclic response can be well represented by the model.