The Effects of Numerical Modeling Assumptions in Seismic Design
Master thesis
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http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2562324Utgivelsesdato
2018Metadata
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Sammendrag
Complex numerical models have been developed during the last decades. They are ableto model complex phenomena that may occur in a structure when subjected to seismicexcitations, including nonlinear material response and the effects of localization. Correctcalibration of the numerical model is essential in order to take advantage of new methods ofanalysis. As the models become more complex, more knowledge is required to make theright assumptions. These assumptions have a large impact on the end results of analyses,which can lead to inaccurate assessment of damage.
The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of modeling assumptions. Thishas been achieved through analysis of a reinforced concrete moment resisting frame. Bothnonlinear time-history analysis (NTHA) and static pushover analysis (SPO) have beenperformed, as these methods complement each other. Different model configurations havebeen used for these analyses to investigate the effect of their differences. The analyzedstructure is a low-rise building with a high degree of regularity, which legitimize an analysisof one of its substructures. Hence, all analyses have been carried out on a 2D frame.Distributed inelasticity elements with fiber sections and complex material models were used.Results from models using both stiffness and flexibility based beam-column elements werecompared. Along with these models, the novel beam with hinges (BwH) beam-columnelement model was used. The OpenSees framework was used as it posses the necessarycapabilities for this kind of study.
Both global and local responses were assessed. The results showed that the modelingassumptions do have a significant impact on the response. This was observed on both globaland local levels. The resulting response histories of the roof drifts showed that for the force based (FB) elements, when more integration points (IP) were used, the response historiesapproached a stable solution. The same could be seen in the inter-story drift ratio (IDR)profiles sampled when maximum roof drifts occurred. For the BwH model, varying thehinge lengths resulted in different response histories with sometimes extreme variations.Importantly, significant differences in the curvature response, which is an important measureof damage, were also observed for different model configurations.
Among the conclusions drawn from these results, is that six or more IPs should be usedfor flexibility based element models when they are being used in a NTHA. Also, it is clearthat measured curvatures are highly sensitive to modeling assumptions. So much in fact,that assumptions resulting mildly imprecise models may lead to unfortunate assessment ofdamage. The results show that attention to detail is important when a numerical model is tobe constructed and that the analyst must have knowledge of the numerical issues that mayarise in order to arrive at a correct assessment. Further work is necessary to quantify theeffects of modeling assumptions.