AN EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH ON HYSTERETIC BEHAVIOR OF RC BEAMS UNDER SIGNIFICANT GRAVITY LOADS

Abstract

In this study, hysteretic behavior of RC beams with and without significant gravity load effects are investigated. To this purpose, an experimental program is carried out in which gravity loads are applied by force controlled test procedure whereas cyclic loads are applied by displacement controlled test procedure. The results of tests with gravity load effect are compared with the results of control specimens with increasing displacement loading profile. Experimentally observed damage states and deformation demands are compared with the respective values proposed by Turkish Seismic Design Code. It is found that, the loading procedure with significant gravity load effect leads to the formation of unidirectional plastic hinges. Besides, the deformation capacities of the specimens are found to be much higher than the code based deformation capacities.

Keywords

• Damage Limits
• Rotation Capacity
• Strain Limits
• Experimental Load Displacement Relations
• Plastic Hinge Length