Forced Vibration Testing and Finite Element Modeling of a Nine-Story Reinforced Concrete Flat Plate-Wall Building

Tunnel form buildings, owing to their higher construction speed and quality, lower cost, and superior earthquake resistance over that of conventional reinforced concrete buildings, have been widely used for mass housing, urban renewal, and post-earthquake reconstruction projects all over the world as well as in Turkey. However, there have been few dynamic tests performed on existing buildings with this structural system. This study investigates the dynamic structural properties of a typical nine-story reinforced concrete flat plate-wall building by forced vibration testing and develops its three-dimensional (3-D) linear elastic finite element structural model. The finite element model that uses the modulus of elasticity for concrete in ACI 318 predicts the natural vibration periods well. Mode shapes are also in good agreement with the test results. Door and window openings in the shear walls, and the basement with peripheral wall emerge as modeling considerations that have the most significant impact on structural system dynamic properties.