Q: Regarding your response "...clear evidence that a plastic hinge has formed globally", does this mean that for local yielding of the top reinforcement which does not have a substantial effect on the global load-displacement response, the loading protocol of Jack 2 won't be activated.

A: This is correct. The loading protocol of Jack 2 is activated when a substantial effect on the global load-displacement response of Jack 2 is observed. It is not activated at local yielding.