Evaluation of deformation limits for reinforced concrete columns

In recent years, instead of force-based design methods, deformation-based design methods have been widely used in the evaluation of structures under earthquake attack. In Turkey Turkish Seismic Code (2018), in Europe, Eurocode 8 (2005) and in the USA ASCE/SEI 41 (2017) for structures are being used in regards to earthquake resistant design of buildings and evaluation of the performance of existing structures under seismic attack. In addition to the existing regulations, there are empirical formulas proposed by the researchers to determine the performance of the structural building elements. However, it is observed that the damage limits stipulated in the regulations are very general for reinforced concrete columns. When these limits given in the regulations are taken into consideration, misleading results can be obtained in the evaluation and design of existing structures under the influence of seismic loads. In this study, rectangular reinforced concrete column models with different design variables were analyzed by means of finely calibrated model by using finite element method and the relationships between deformation limits and design parameters were examined. Calculated deformation values with parametric study were compared with deformation limits in codes and proposed equations by researchers. As a result of this study, a correlation was obtained which could be used more effectively in seismic evaluation of reinforced concrete structural elements and important column design parameters were also effective.