Investigating the vulnerability of nonductile reinforced concrete columns in moderate seismic regions to gravity load collapse

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns are important components of the lateral load-resisting structural system of RC buildings. In moderate seismic regions, where stringent seismic reinforcement detailing requirements are usually not considered, RC columns are categorized as nonductile. Postearthquake studies have shown that gravity load collapse of RC columns can trigger the progressive collapse of RC buildings. The current study presents the seismic response behavior of nonductile RC columns in moderate seismic regions, with a particular focus on gravity load collapse. Six RC columns, three with lap splices and three without lap splices with variable aspect ratios, were tested under reversed cyclic loading. Experimental results show that the column failing in shear could tolerate the maximum drift in order of 2.7-3.5%, whereas the columns failed in flexural mode could achieve the maximum drift of 4.5%. For the columns with lap splice, the lateral strength was significantly degraded, but all spliced columns could sustain gravity load even when their displacements were more than 4% drift. This very large drift without axial collapse, observed in the current study, is associated with the splice slip causing the large rotation just above the splice region.