Simulation and prediction of seismic behaviors for RC columns under freeze–thaw cycles

Freeze-thaw cycle (FTC) is a severe durability issue that can seriously degrade the seismic behaviors of concrete structures, especially in cold regions. In this paper, a finite element (FE) model is proposed to evaluate the seismic behaviors of reinforced concrete (RC) columns under FTC. Based on the results of tests on eight column specimens under cyclic load and FTC, a series of calculation studies on the seismic behaviors of specimens under FTC are investigated. And calculation results show a good fit with the corresponding test results. Furthermore, according to the verified FE model, 36 numerical cases are simulated to investigate the effects of parameters (including axial compression ratio and shear span-to-depth ratio) on the seismic behaviors (including ultimate bearing capacity, yield load, and ultimate displacement) of specimens under FTC. Calculation results indicate that the axial compression ratio and shear span-to-depth ratio have a great impact on the seismic behaviors of columns under FTC. Finally, a theoretical model, considering the effects of axial compression ratio and shear span-to-depth ratio, is established to predict the ultimate bearing capacity, yield load, and ultimate displacement of specimens under FTC. The accuracy of the prediction results is verified by comparing with the corresponding test results.