Experimental investigation on performance of beam column frames with column kickers

Abstract

The worldwide use of reinforced concrete construction stems from wide availability of the reinforcing steel as well as the concrete ingredients. Concrete construction does, however, require a certain level of technology, expertise, and workmanship, particularly in the field during construction. As a supporting technology for concrete column or wall construction, a kicker is cast as part of the slab or foundation to provide a convenient starting point for a wall or column and to ensure integrity at this important junction. A comprehensive study was carried out here to investigate the behavior of reinforced concrete frame with different kicker thicknesses. To achieve this objective, six half-scale specimens of a portal reinforced concrete frame with kickers and one portal frame without kicker were constructed according to common practice in the industry and subjected to cyclic incremental horizontal loading with sustained gravity load. In this study, the experimental data obtained in four deflection controlled cycles, were used to study the performance of kickers. Load-displacement characteristics were obtained; and maximum loads and deflections were measured and assessed. Finally, the test results of frames with three different types of kicker thicknesses were compared with the test results of a kickerless frame. Similar crack patterns were observed for all the specimens. The reinforced concrete frames with increased kicker thickness showed improved performance in respect of load capacity, stiffness, initiating first crack and residual displacement. Comparing with kickerless specimen it was observed that performance of kickerless specimen was relatively better.