Numerical Simulation on Mechanical Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Core Tube

As a kind of lateral resistant structures, reinforced concrete (RC) core tube takes on good spatial working capability and complicated mechanical behaviors under the earthquake function. Therefore, how to accurately simulate the nonlinear behaviors of RC tubes is an important problem in seismic analysis of structures. Based on the existing experiment data and the advanced numerical simulation technique, finite element model of RC tubes are established reasonably. Then the influence of axial compression ratio, reinforcement ratio, load action direction, ratio of height to width and stiffness of coupling beams on the capacity and deformation performance of RC tubes are analyzed systemically. Results from the simulation match well with those from the tests. The axial compression ratio and reinforcement ratio have distinct affect on the elastic and inelastic behavior of RC tubes; the load action direction and stiffness of coupling beams mainly have affect on the post-cracking behavior of RC tubes; the ratio of height to width not only have affect on the capacity and deformation performance, but determines the failure forms of RC tubes. Conclusions in this paper are helpful in the elasto-plastic calculation of RC tubes or high-rise building.