Time-dependent analysis of RC frame structures considering construction sequences

This paper deals with a time-dependent analysis of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures considering the construction sequences. Because of the non-mechanical deformations induced by the time-dependent deformations of concrete, concrete structures usually present different behaviors when the construction sequences are changed, despite having the same structural configurations. Therefore, the time-dependent effects of concrete such as creep and shrinkage must be taken into consideration to simulate the actual behavior of RC frame structures. The material nonlinearity including the cracking of concrete is taken into consideration, and geometric nonlinearity due to the P-ΔΔ effect is also taken into account by using the initial stress matrix. In addition, the creep deformation of concrete is described in accordance with a first-order algorithm based on the expansion of a degenerated kernel of the compliance function. Finally, correlation studies with previous numerical results and experimental data are conducted to verify the validity of the proposed model. An analysis of a 10-story RC frame structure is carried out to assess the differences in structural responses according to the construction sequences.