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Extensive research has shown that properly detailed and closely spaced transverse reinforcement in reinforced concrete columns can ensure ductile behavior during earthquakes. However, in regions of high seismicity, detailing requirements can result in heavily congested sections; the use of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) can facilitate construction in these situations. Although extensive research exists on the axial load behavior of traditional concrete columns, only limited research exists on the behavior of columns constructed with SCC. Research over the past two decades has also shown that use of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) can improve the strength and ductility of columns by delaying cover spalling and improving core confinement. Recent research has also shown that the combined use of SCC and steel fibers can ease problems associated with the workability of traditional fiber-reinforced concrete. This paper presents the results from an experimental program that was conducted to study the axial behavior of reinforced concrete columns constructed with SCC and SFRC. Full-scale columns having rectangular cross sections were tested under pure axial compressive loading. The columns were detailed with varying amounts of transverse reinforcement in accordance with the requirements of the Canadian Standards Association. The results confirm that increasing confinement with closely spaced transverse reinforcement in rectangular SCC columns results in improvements in behavior and ductility. In addition, the results demonstrate that the use of SFRC in rectangular columns results in improvements in performance and ductility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lateral strength and stiffness requirements due to wind loads usually govern the design of tall buildings. The current building codes in the US, Canada, and Europe recognize the first significant yield point as an ultimate limit state. Consequently, the current design practices ignore the plastic capacity of structural systems in the nonlinear range, which could result in overdesigned buildings. Thus, the classical linear-elastic design arguments shall be reexamined with consideration of performance-based wind design (PBWD) approaches, innovative technologies, and materials. We are presenting two companion papers to demonstrate the benefits of considering the nonlinear capacity of structural systems in the design of wind-excited buildings. In this paper, Part I, we have postulated and then proved the capability of self-centering systems in controlling the possible damage accumulation in structural systems subjected to along-wind loads. Our arguments are based on an extensive parametric study through nonlinear time history analyses considering peak and residual ductility-demands, normalized hysteretic energy dissipation, and the rate of damage accumulation as performance indicators. Overall, the results of the parametric study revealed that self-centering systems could benefit the most from the ductility-based design due to their inherent recentering capability, higher energy dissipation, and lower sensitivity to wind duration. Consistent with the notion of PBWD, for self-centering systems, the companion Part II paper demonstrates the benefits of the ductility-based wind design in terms of economics and safety through structural reliability analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an experimental investigation of steel-sheathed cold-formed steel-framed shear walls by means of dynamic shake table tests. The objective was to evaluate the seismic performance and to identify whether the shear-wall behavior was consistent with past static tests, to obtain measures of damping and natural period of vibration, to investigate the influence of a second story, and to validate and improve the accuracy of the numerically predicted force-deformation response. The scope of study comprised five single-story and five double-story walls of the platform framing technique. Each wall was subjected to a suite of excitations: impact test to measure the linear-viscous damping ratio, harmonic excitation to estimate the natural period of vibration, and ground motions representative of the seismic hazard in Canada. An overview is presented of the test setup and dynamic loading protocols, as well as the test results and numerical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of modernization, solid round steel bars are widely used in communication towers, which play a vital role in today’s world. Solid steel round bars are used as leg members, diagonal members, and horizontal members of a communication tower. Canadian Standard for Antenna towers and Antenna Supporting Structures, CAN/CSA-S37-01, specifies empirical expressions for the compressive strength of solid rounds based on the well-known Structural Stability Research Council column strength curves for nonsolid-round members as well as on the results from an experimental investigation on the compressive resistance of solid rounds carried out back to 1965. This paper provides a summary of the available literature on the compressive strength of solid rounds. Also, the results of the recently tested six large solid round bars at Ryerson University, Toronto, are presented. Correlation between the results from these tests and the current practice for the design of solid rounds is investigated. It is expected that the results from this paper direct the attention of code writers to more economical and safe empirical expressions for the ultimate compressive resistance of solid rounds. This would assist the practicing engineers in the evaluation of the load-carrying capacity of existing antenna towers since even a small increase in strength for live load can make the difference between demolishing a tower or leaving it in service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]