Punch resistance of slab column connection under lateral loads

Even though a reinforced concrete flat slab structural system is an attractive structural system and architecturally flexible, the main problem in this system is the brittle failure under punching shear which may result in a progressive collapse of the building. In this study three dimensional (3-D) nonlinear fmite element (FE) analysesof edge column-slab connections subjected to lateral and vertical loadshave been conducted. The analysis is carried out using the commercialprogram ANSYS. The purpose of this study is to asses the effect of amultitude of structural parameters on the connection punchingstrength.The parameters studied are the slab tension steel ratio, slabcompression steel ratio, unbalanced moment / shear ratio, concretecompressive strength feu and transverse reinforcement on punchingresistance and connection behavior at failure. The punching shearstrength, load-deflection responses and crack patterns predicted byFEM are compared with experimental results from literature. Thenumerical investigations confirm the accuracy and effectiveness ofFEM in predicting the strength and behavior of column-slab connections. Also analysis results have been compared with the design approaches of the international codes (ACI 31-05, ECP 203-07 CEB-FIP MC 90, BS 8110-97).