Keihani, Reza ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3679-8312 (2020) Enhancing RC buildings’ structural and sustainability performance by design optimisations and a novel connection. Doctoral thesis, University of West London.

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Abstract

In the UK, the use of shear walls has become an expansive technique in almost any reinforced concrete (RC) frame building, as indicated by The Concrete Centre, and the construction industry recently criticised the necessity for such vertical resisting elements in low-to-medium- rise RC buildings. In this regard, a moment-resisting system could be another solution for the construction of RC frame buildings with higher ductility in structural performance than shear walls, potentially leading to the collapse of lower columns and connections, problems of serviceability and even to overturning of the whole structure. In view of this, in this PhD research, the viability of eliminating shear walls in low-to-medium-rise RC frame buildings in different locations in the UK was evaluated. Furthermore, the effect of several factors on the design of RC moment-resisting frames in residential low-to-medium-rise buildings was explored in order to identify pitfalls of this approach in height using ETABS software. Thereafter, an innovative beam-column connection (Mini-Haunch) was designed, experimentally tested and analysed with various finite element simulations using Abaqus and ANSYS software, with a view of reducing construction costs and time as well as enhancing sustainability and performance of RC moment-resisting structures. This was followed by an experimental investigation on the feasibility of using polypropylene as a fine aggregate substitute as another step towards more sustainable construction. According to results, it was shown that low-to-medium-rise RC frame buildings in the UK could be constructed without shear walls while having sufficient serviceability and strength, in compliance with Eurocode 2 Part 1-1 guideline. In addition, the same design layout could be constructed at various locations in the UK, thus demonstrating acceptable serviceability and strength of Eurocode 2 Part 1-1. Furthermore, it was noted that by adjusting various parameters, i.e. concrete grade, column size, column section and slab thickness, the overall height of RC moment-resisting frames for typical buildings in the UK could be raised to up to 13 storeys. These findings and further investigations have led to a practical guideline for UK structural engineers in RC moment-resisting frames in partnership with The Concrete Centre. Moreover, the Mini-Haunch connection demonstrated an advancement in the design and performance of RC moment-resisting frames, offering a considerable potential to increase structural performance of such buildings and promote the economy and environmental sustainability of construction by using less volume of concrete during construction. Eventually, it was found that polypropylene could be a feasible material to replace fine aggregates in the concrete mix design. The experimental testing showed satisfactory results with a low reduction in the concrete mix design and some of the specimens even exceeding the aimed ST5 standardised compressive strength of the concrete mix.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	Construction and engineering
Depositing User:	Reza Keihani
Date Deposited:	12 Apr 2021 14:08
Last Modified:	28 Aug 2021 07:15
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/7808

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