Title: Testing of Reinforced Concrete Frames Extracted from a Building Damaged during the Canterbury Earthquakes

Author(s): Kevin Walsh, Richard Henry, Gye Simkin, Nicholas Brooke, Barry Davidson, and Jason Ingham

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 113

Issue: 2

Appears on pages(s): 349-362

Keywords: cyclic loading; ductility; earthquake; frames; precast concrete; reinforced concrete; shear-ductile

DOI: 10.14359/51688198

Date: 3/1/2016

Abstract:
In the aftermath of the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand, the residual capacity and reparability of damaged reinforced concrete (RC) structures was an issue pertinent to building owners, insurers, and structural engineers. Three precast RC moment-resisting frame specimens were extracted during the demolition of the Clarendon Tower in Christchurch after sustaining earthquake damage. These specimens were subjected to quasi-static cyclic testing as part of a research program to determine the reparability of the building. It was concluded that the precast RC frames were able to be repaired and retrofitted to an enhanced strength capacity with no observed reduction in displacement capacity, although the frames with “shear-ductile” detailing exhibited less displacement ductility capacity and energy dissipation capacity than the more conventionally detailed RC frames. Furthermore, the cyclic test results from the earthquake-damaged RC frames were used to verify the predicted inelastic demands applied to the specimens during the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes.