The use of high strength concrete (with f’
c>50MPa) is very common in buildings and other
structures designed recently. Economy, superior strength, stiffness and durability are the major
reasons for its popularity. Structural Engineers are presently exploring the benefits of using this
efficient material in various applications. The main aims of this paper are to highlight the
applications of high strength concrete in earthquake resistant frame structures and study the
behaviour of important high strength concrete elements in those structures. A case study is
presented to show the comparative difference in seismic performance when high strength concrete
is used as a replacement for normal strength concrete in a typical frame structure.
INTRODUCTION
The advancement of material technology and production has led to higher grades of concrete strengths. The use
of High strength Concrete (HSC) elements (f'
c>50MPa) for concrete structures has proven very popular, with
strengths of concrete up to about 130MPa used around the world. These concretes can be produced using
conventional production procedures. The main advantages of HSC include higher strength and higher stiffness,
improved durability, cost efficiency, reduced creep and drying shrinkage, better impact resistance and better
resistance to abrasion. However, as shown in Figure 1, HSC is less ductile compared to normal strength concrete