Advanced numerical modelling for damage analysis of RC structures: a case study on beam-column joints

The structural damage of reinforced concrete (RC) or masonry constructions, is commonly, associated with nonlinear phenomena that make the analysis of the structural be-havior a challenging task. This is even more difficult for shear critical structures. Further-more, the severe cracking may be associated, in these cases, with an incipient collapse, due to the limited ductility of shear critical members. Advanced mechanical-based theories has been developed in order to accurately capture the post-cracking behavior of shear critical struc-tural systems; although accurate, such theories required complex calculations that make their use not suitable for practical applications. Recent technological developments in computa-tional capacity opened to the implementation of accurate and complex theories on the nonlin-ear behavior of RC structures in software suitable to accurately reproduce the nonlinear behavior of structural systems. Computer-aided nonlinear analyses are nowadays widespread in the practical engineering and, in some cases, they represent an useful tool for forensic en-gineering. This paper presents a case study on the application of advanced numerical model-ling for the damage analysis of poorly detailed beam-column joints. These elements are one of the main source of vulnerability of RC existing buildings subjected to seismic actions and their failure may lead to the collapse of the entire structural system.