Characterization of seismic performance of concrete block arch and dome structures

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Lock Block Ltd., of Vancouver, BC, manufactures pre-cast concrete products. The company has created a system of pre-cast block arch and dome structures. The objective of the proposed research program is to properly characterize the seismic behaviour of these systems, when subjected to both horizontal and vertical seismic shaking and to develop an engineering guideline for design of an external reinforcing and/or energy dissipating mechanism as required. The intended approach utilizes shake-table testing of scale models, and analytical modelling. The analytical model uses fixed hinge points and assumes rigid-body geometry with what is referred to as the 'four-link' mechanism. It has been observed from shake table testing in the past, that the rocking-type failure and four-link mechanism governs, and that the arches are vulnerable to impulse-type ground excitations. For the proposed project, shake table tests will be performed using time-scaled earthquake ground motions on 1/25 scale models. A suite of ground motions will be applied taking into consideration local design (such as west coast and NBCC) and also significant earthquakes from around the world. These records will be applied at different intensity levels, to determine sensitivities to the type of ground motion and model it is applied to. For the analytical modelling the four-link model and additional solid-modelling will be analyzed. These models will be used to examine a wider range of behaviour, based on the shake table tests. Test variants will include various external reinforcing methods and varying boundary conditions (such as the first row of blocks). To validate the small-scale and analytical modelling, a full-scale static test will be performed. The deliverables of this project will include a complete experimental test report, a Master's thesis which will focus on the analytical testing, two conference papers and one journal paper, and an Engineering Design Guideline.