Correlating Nonlinear Static and Dynamic Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Frames

Abstract

Nonlinear static and dynamic analyses for the design of reinforced concrete frames for strong ground motion are explored in the study. The objectives of the study are to determine 1) the correlation between results from nonlinear static and dynamic analyses, 2) the optimallateralloading distnbution for static analysis, 3) the simplest lateral load distribution that provides adequate results, and 4) the parameters that are reasonably calculated using static analysis for use in design. Parameters included in the study were four number of stories, three frame configurations, four lateral loading distributions for use in static analysis, and ten strong ground motion records for use in dynamic analysis. The key design items were base shear, location of member yielding, column ductility, controlling mechanism, distorted shape of the frame, story drift ratio, and shear and rotation in the members. Results indicated that static analysis provided fair estimates of base shear, general member yielding, distorted shape, and story drift, but gave insufficient estimates of member shear and rotation and the exact location of the controlling mechanism in the frames. The uniform loading distribution best estimated base shear and member shear and rotation, whereas the loading distribution based on provisions in FEMA-356 best estimated the distorted shape, story drift, and column ductility. Overall, precise results from static analysis can not be expected because the results from dynamic analysis vary widely.