Influence of Uncertainty in Concrete Compressive Strength on Structural Ductility

Inga A.J.V.; Almidon N.E.A.; Contreras A.J.A.; Montesinos J.F.P. · SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering (2026) · DOI: 10.14445/23488352/ijce-v13i5p125

Resumen

The occurrence of recent earthquakes has put in evidence, yet again, that reinforced concrete buildings are not as safe as thought. This circumstance is true, even in areas where there are seismic standards that have the purpose of guaranteeing that buildings are safe during earthquakes. Besides, this situation reveals the need for a better understanding of how factors, like the variability of concrete strength, can affect the performance of structures. On one hand, the strength of concrete is very important to consider in the occurrence of an earthquake because it can have an important effect on how a building responds to these kinds of loads. This study observes the changes in the strength of concrete, and also analyzes how ductile mid-rise reinforced concrete buildings are, because these types of buildings are common in the Peruvian city landscape. With the aim of attaining the objectives of this research, a four-story model was first created and later analyzed. This model was thoroughly analyzed in four different concrete scenarios with different strengths: 21, 28, 35, and 42 MPa. In order to execute these analyses, it was necessary to do three things: to create the capacity curves, to identify the yield and ultimate displacements, and to calculate ductility as the ratio of the two. The outcomes evidenced that as the concrete strength increased, the building's base shear capacity also increased, but by about 4.4%. To be more specific, the pressure increased from 360 tons at 21 MPa to 376 tons at 42 MPa, but this strength rise also made the material 28% less flexible. This circumstance means that the material could not deform or absorb energy as easily during an earthquake. In short, stiffer concrete can make structures stronger, but it can also make them less ductile. This situation makes them more likely to fail during earthquakes. This study exhibits how material quality affects the performance of structures against earthquakes. This research also provides important information that can be used with the objective of improving building design, quality control, and planning structural reinforcements in areas where earthquakes are common. One important thing to mention is that the analysis looked at a regular, average-height model. Hence, in the future, irregular structures and the use of probabilistic methods ought to be studied with the objective of making these findings more relevant.

Instituciones: Universidad Continental