Experimental and numerical investigation of a full-scale multistorey RC building under dynamic loading

A structural scheme of a typical precast multistorey reinforced concrete building incorporating flat-slab and braced frame systems is presented. The building has been designed for seismic zones. First its dynamic parameters have been determined experimentally. Than the structure has been subjected to resonance vibration and impulse loads in order to yield cracking and other damage in the load-bearing elements and their joints. The obtained experimental results have been interpreted from the seismic resistance viewpoint. The dynamic parameters and the structural elements damage nature for that building were the main subject of the experiments. Further theoretical investigation has been focused on examining the response of the building to real earthquakes. The experimentally obtained response of the building to vibration loading and the numerically calculated structural behaviour under real earthquakes have been compared. It was concluded that the building satisfies the seismic code requirements for zones with peak ground accelerations (PGA) less than 0·3 g. In order to adapt the building to seismic zones with higher PGA without any changes in the load-bearing elements and their joints, it was proposed to use a base isolation system. Numerical simulation shows that the base-isolated building represents a safe response to real earthquake records with PGA equal to 0·3 g. Hence the structure can be recommended for seismic zones with that PGA.