Abstract:
This thesis is divided into four parts. The first part
discusses the problem of using prestressed concrete for earthquake
resistant structures, and examines the "equivalent viscous damping"
approach to the measurement of structural damping. Part two
describes the reversed cyclic testing of prestressed concrete
members: end moments were applied to the members to simulate
earthquake loading, and measurements were made of stiffness and
damping energy. An analytical method of obtaining moment - rotation
curves for prestressed members, taking account of curvature
concentration at the tension cracks, is presented in part three. The
last part is a study of the response of an idealized prestressed
concrete structure to a recorded earthquake ground motion. The
test results given in part two are used to define the properties of the
idealized structure.
