Plastic hinges mechano-reliability analysis in the beams of RC frames structures

Purpose The purpose of this study is to establish a relationship between causes and effects, the respect of materials characteristics values [concrete compressive strength (fc) and steel yield stress (fy)] and the norms of the construction dispositions value (covers). This study is motivated by the post-seismic damages related to the plastification of the reinforced concrete (RC)/beams sections, named plastic hinges. The results are given by fragility curves representing the failure probability (Pf) of the plastic hinges versus covers value. Design/methodology/approach A mechanical-reliability coupling methodology is proposed and performed on three frames (three, six and nine storey). For each frame, seven covers the value of reinforcement steel bars has been taken into account in the beams. After definition of the limit state function G(x), a process of idea to twin-track; deterministic and probabilistic, is considered. Thus, numerical simulations are carried out under ETABS© software, to extract a soliciting moments Ms(x). Then, ultimate moments Mu(x), the result of reliability approach are calculated using Monte Carlo Simulations. In this step, two random variables; concrete compressive strength in 28 days of age (fc) and steel yield stress (fy), have been studied. Findings In the mechanical study, the results show that, the first plastic hinge appears at the beams for all frames. In the reliability study, the (fy) variation shows that all plastic hinges are in failure domain, nevertheless, the (fc) variation leads to have all sections in the safety domain, except A7 and B7 models. The failure probability (Pf) calculation according to (fc) and (fy) shows that an absolute error of 0.5 cm in the steel bars covers can switch the frame from the safety domain to the failure domain. Originality/value The plastic hinges reliability of the RC/ frame structures is independent on the high of the structure. The (fc) random variable according to the used distribution law does not affect the reliability (safety or failure). However, the impact of the steel yield stress variation (fy) is not negligible. The errors in covers affect considerably the strength of the elements.