Collapse Assessment of Building Columns through Multi-Axis Hybrid Simulation
Javad Hashemi 1, Hamidreza A. Yazdi1, Riadh Al-Mahaidi1, Emad Gad1
1 Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology
Melbourne, VIC 3122 Australia
jhashemi@swin.edu.au
hyazdi@swin.edu.au
ralmahaidi@swin.edu.au
egad@swin.edu.au
Abstract. One of the major challenges in collapse assessment of building columns has been the lack of realistic data obtained from reliable experimental loading protocols that are capable of accurately quantifying the reserve capacity of these elements beyond the design level to the state of complete collapse. Until now, quasi-static (QS) symmetrically cyclic or monotonic tests with constant axial load have been commonly used, which are not adequate to accurately capture the actual response of a collapsing column in real earthquake events. Hybrid simulation (HS) can be considered as an attractive alternative to realistically simulate more complex boundary conditions and improve response prediction of a structure from elastic range to collapse. This paper presents a comparative experimental study on two identical large-scale limited-ductility RC columns that were tested to collapse through QS and HS, respectively. A state-of-the-art hybrid testing facility, referred to as the multi axis substructure testing (MAST) system, was used to simulate complex time-varying six-degrees-of-freedom (6-DOF) boundary effects on the physical specimens. Further, preliminary numerical simulations for a series of comparative hybrid simulations with two large-scale steel columns, namely, a prefabricated steel tubular (PST) column and a square concrete-filled steel tube (SCFT) column, is also presented.
Keywords: MAST system, Building columns, Hybrid simulation, Collapse experiments.
