Energy dissipation capacity of RC columns subjected to unidirectional and bidirectional seismic loading

Resumen

One of the gaps of knowledge for the application of the energy-based approach to conventional structures concerns the evaluation of the energy dissipation capacity of structural elements and systems. Addressing this issue calls for experimental data on structural members, structures or substructures subjected to realistic seismic loadings. The best source for such information is the dynamic shake table test. It can reproduce complex effects such as cumulative damage and rate-of-loading effects, that play an important role in the response of the structure. However this type of tests are very costly and time consuming. Therefore, it is necessary to complete the test information with numerical simulations. This paper provides information on the energy dissipation capacity of columns subjected to one and to two components of the seismic action. This information comes from shake table test conducted on RC waffle flat plate structures supported on isolated columns. The energy dissipated at the base of the columns until collapse is estimated applying different approaches.