Open Access

ARTICLE

Energy Dissipation and Stiffness Assessment: A Study on RC Frame Joints Reinforced with UHPSFRC

Trung-Hieu Tran^*

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Hanoi Architectural University, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam

* Corresponding Author: Trung-Hieu Tran. Email:

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring 2025, 19(4), 869-886. https://doi.org/10.32604/sdhm.2025.064902

Received 27 February 2025; Accepted 24 April 2025; Issue published 30 June 2025

Abstract

The design principles for conventional reinforced concrete structures have gradually transitioned to seismic-resistant design since the 1970s. However, until recently, the implementation of strength capacity and ductility design has not been rigorously enforced in many developing countries that are prone to seismic risks. Numerous studies have evaluated the effectiveness of joint behavior based on both ductile and non-ductile designs under cyclic loading. Previous research has demonstrated that enhancing joint regions with Ultra-High Performance Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPSFRC) significantly improves the seismic resistance of structural components. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the considerable improvements in energy dissipation capacity and stiffness degradation observed in both reinforced test samples compared to the control sample. Furthermore, assessing the effective performance of enhanced reinforced concrete joints is a critical parameter for evaluating the feasibility of this approach. The findings highlight the potential for UHPSFRC to enhance the resilience of concrete structures under seismic loads, providing a viable solution to improve the safety and durability of infrastructure in earthquake-prone regions. This study aims to inform future design methodologies and standards in seismic-resistant construction in developing nations, emphasizing the importance of adopting innovative materials to mitigate earthquake risks effectively.

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