Behavior and ductility of high strength reinforced concrete frames

This paper presents an experimental study for the behavior and ductility of H.S.R.C frames. The experimental program was conducted on five specimens (frames). F1 is a control specimen consisting of beam with cross section 12×20cm and length 1.85m and two columns with cross section 12×20cm and height 1.5m. In the second specimen (F2) the depth of beam is changed from 20cm to 30cm but in the third specimen (F3) the dimensions of columns are changed to 12×30cm while in the fourth specimen (F4) the aspect ratio h/L (height to length of panel) of frame is changed from 0.81 to 0.625. The fifth specimen (F5) has different details of connections between columns and beam. The stirrups are arranged in half spacing distance at connection with respect to the regular distance of all columns and beams. The dimension of frames is selected to represent half scale frames and tested under cyclic loading. All specimens of the experimental program are tested in the reinforced concrete testing laboratory at Housing and Building National Research Center in Cairo. The results of the tests and the analysis of the obtained results are represented in different ways. The ductility factor (R) of high strength concrete frames for frames F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 is 8.96, 7.48, 5.59, 6.24 and 8.87 respectively.