Pushover Analysis of a Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) Structure Incorporating Fibre-Reinforced Polymers to Address Vertical Irregularities

Abstract

India has had four of the world's most destructive earthquakes in the past ten years, and our country is often rocked by earthquakes of low to moderate intensity. Since many buildings were severely damaged or collapsed, it has sparked debate whether framed constructions are sufficiently sturdy to withstand significant vibrations. As a result, the strength or ability of existing reinforced concrete structures to withstand seismic loads can be evaluated. The performance level of earthquake-prone buildings is evaluated using a performance-based design. One seismic technique for assessing a building's performance level is push-over analysis. It is possible to determine whether damage occurs at the member or structure level using pushover analysis. The study employs pushover analysis by Applied Technology Council (ATC) – 4), a seismic assessment technique, to evaluate the ability of 20-story buildings in seismic Zone III (with hard soil characteristics) to resist earthquake-induced forces. The primary objective was to assess the performance of structures reinforced with different fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials, including aramid, glass, and carbon fibers, known for their high flexibility and strength in seismically active regions. To determine the best fiber-reinforced polymer configuration, the study considers the following parameters: pushover curve, target displacement, story shear, time period, maximum story displacement, and story drift based on pushover analysis independently. Through the pushover analysis method, the research discovers that FRP wrapping can significantly improve the seismic performance of reinforced concrete buildings. The findings aim to improve building design practices by recommending fiber-reinforced polymer configurations for better earthquake resistance, ensuring that future constructions are better equipped to handle seismic activity.