Numerical Investigation of RC Beams with an Integrated Frictional and Elastomeric Seismic Device

Abstract

In conventional seismic design, reinforced concrete (RC) frames are typically detailed to form plastic hinges that dissipate seismic energy through inelastic deformation, but this strategy also leads to significant local damage under severe loading. Recent research has focused on low-damage strategies that shift inelastic demand from primary RC members to dissipative components. In this study, a frictional and elastomeric seismic device, originally developed for steel structures, was numerically integrated into an RC beam. Initially, the 3D nonlinear finite element modeling approach was calibrated against the load-deflection response of an experimentally tested RC beam from the literature. Subsequently, the calibrated modeling approach was used to evaluate the cyclic response of device-integrated RC beams. A parametric study was performed to investigate the influence of the friction coefficient, bolt pretension, and embedment configuration of longitudinal steel plates. Numerical results indicate that the device can substantially increase the cumulative energy dissipation capacity of the RC beam. When a single, short embedded longitudinal plate is used to transfer high resisting moments, severe strain localization is observed, leading to premature damage in the surrounding concrete. Using multiple embedded longitudinal plates distributes plastic deformations across a larger concrete volume, preventing the formation of a single dominant strain localization band and allowing the friction mechanism to maintain stable hysteretic behavior at larger drift levels. Although these findings are based on numerical analyses and require experimental verification, they support the concept as a promising solution for low-damage RC applications, provided that embedment detailing is carefully designed.