ABSTRACT
The major obstacle in the implementation of performance based earthquake design is to predict the dynamic characters of structures during the nonlinear stage with random deformation concentration. By introducing some high strength elastic structural elements, the change of dynamic characters of structures in severe earthquake will be effectively controlled. And FRP can meet such requirements that are both high strength and good deformation capacity. In this paper, a novel frame with FRP reinforcement in column (referred as passive control RC frame (PCRCF), is proposed. The column with FRP reinforcement will not yield which avoids the appearance of soft story failure, and the beams with normal steel reinforcement will absorb earthquake energy with plastic hinges. Numerical examples show that PCRCF has better earthquake performance and smaller residual deformation, which makes rehabilitation and strengthening of the frames be easier for PCRCF.
