Evaluation of a Four-Story Reinforccd Concrete Building Damaged during the Northridge Earthquake

Abstract

A four-story reinforced concrete (RC) frame structure damaged during the Northridge Earthquake was evaluated to determine if punching shear failures that occurred at interior slab-column connections could be post-calculated using analytical methods. The building was evaluated using: 1) a code level strength analysis, 2) a static nonlinear (“pushover”) analysis, and 3) a dynamic nonlinear response analysis using ground motions recorded within 1 km (0.6 mi.) of the building. Based on design material properties and field observations, both the static and dynamic nonlinear analyses were able to successfully post-calculate the observed punching shear failures.