Title:
Seismic Behavior and Resilience of Concrete Slit Shear Walls with Low-Bond and Debonded High-Strength Reinforcements
Author(s):
J. H. Wang, Z. Wang, Q. Wu, and Y. P. Sun
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
123
Issue:
4
Appears on pages(s):
279-293
Keywords:
debonded; high-strength reinforcement; low-bond; resilience; seismic behavior; shear wall; slit
DOI:
10.14359/51750587
Date:
7/1/2026
Abstract:
To investigate the seismic behavior and resilience of reinforced concrete (RC) slit shear walls with either low-bond or debonded high-strength reinforcements, eight shear walls with different cross-sectional forms and types of longitudinal reinforcing bars were fabricated and subjected to both compressive loading and cyclic lateral loading. The experimental results indicate that the test shear walls with anchored infilled steel columns (ISCs) failed in flexure of the subshear walls due to the form of a vertical slit. The use of both low-bond high-strength reinforcing bar (SBPDN reinforcing bar) and an anchored ISC significantly increased the ductility of the shear wall without reducing the stiffness at the early deformation stage or the seismic resistance. Interestingly, the debonding of the longitudinal reinforcing bar reduced the strain of the transverse reinforcement. The debonding and low bonding of the longitudinal reinforcing bar increased the contribution ratio of deformation due to steel-bond slip but decreased the contribution ratio of shear deformation. Moreover, the anchorage of an ISC plays an important role in the contributions of shear and flexural deformation. The models proposed in the current provisions can be used to accurately predict the seismic resistance of shear walls with debonded and low-bond high-strength reinforcing bars.
Related References:
1. Fintel, M., “Performance of Buildings with Shear Walls in Earthquakes of the Last Thirty Years,” PCI Journal, V. 40, No. 3, 1995, pp. 62-80. doi: 10.15554/pcij.05011995.62.80
2. Ghosh, S. K., “Observations on the Performance of Structures in the Kobe Earthquake of January 17, 1995,” PCI Journal, V. 40, No. 2, 1995, pp. 14-22. doi: 10.15554/pcij.03011995.14.22
3. Ghosh, S. K., and Cleland, N., “Observations From the February 27, 2010, Earthquake in Chile,” PCI Journal, V. 57, No. 1, 2012, pp. 52-75. doi: 10.15554/pcij.01012012.52.75
4. Chalarca, B.; Bedoya-Ruiz, D.; and Herrera, J. P., “Experimental Behavior and Seismic Performance Assessment of Unbonded Post-Tensioned Precast Concrete Walls for Low-Rise Buildings,” Engineering Structures, V. 289, 2023, p. 116251. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.116251
5. Zhang, X.; Zhou, G. Q.; Li, S. R.; Zhang, F.; and Zhang, S., “Experimental and Numerical Study on Seismic Behavior of Prestressed Concrete Composite Shear Wall,” Engineering Structures, V. 266, 2022, p. 114546. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2022.114546
6. Stevenson, M.; Panian, L.; Korolyk, M.; and Mar, D., “Post-Tensioned Concrete Walls and Frames for Seismic Resistance—A Case Study of the David Brower Center,” Proceedings of the SEAOC Annual Convention, Big Island, HI, 2008.
7. Roke, D. A.; Chandra, A. Q.; Huang, Q.; and Sett, K., “Methodology for Life Cycle Cost Assessment of Self-Centering Concentrically Braced Frame Systems,” Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Urban Earthquake Engineering, Tokyo, Japan, 2013.
8. Soto-Rojas, M. A.; Ferche, A. C.; and Palermo, D., “Behavior of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy- and Steel-Reinforced Shear Walls Repaired with Engineered Cementitious Composite,” ACI Structural Journal, V. 120, No. 4, July 2023, pp. 207-222.
9. Abraik, E., and Youssef, M. A., “Ductility and Overstrength of Shape-Memory-Alloy Reinforced-Concrete Shear Wall,” Engineering Structures, V. 239, 2021, p. 112236.
10. Mahamood, A. A.; Mukhtar, F.; and Alam, M. S., “Seismic Resilience of RC Structures with Shape Memory Alloys: Past and New Perspectives,” Engineering Structures, V. 346, 2026, p. 121638. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121638
11. Sun, Y. P., and Cai, G. C., “Seismic Behavior of Circular Concrete Columns Reinforced by Low-Bond Ultrahigh Strength (LBUS) Rebars,” Journal of Structural Engineering, V. 149, No. 9, 2023, p. 04023126. doi: 10.1061/JSENDH.STENG-10296
12. Takeuchi, T.; Sun, Y. P.; Tani, M.; and Shing, P. S. B., “Seismic Performance of Concrete Columns Reinforced with Weakly Bonded Ultra High-Strength Longitudinal Bars,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, V. 147, No. 1, 2021, p. 04020290. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002886
13. GB/T 5223.3-2017, “Steel Bars for the Prestressing of Concrete,” General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing, China, SAC, 2017.
14. Fujitani, T., “Study on Effect of Strength of Rebars on the Seismic Performance of Rectangular Concrete Walls,” Proceedings of the Japan Concrete Institute, V. 40, No. 2, 2018, pp. 313-318. (in Japanese)
15. Wei, C. J.; Sun, Y. P.; Takeuchi, T.; and Takeda, Y., “Study on Seismic Behavior of Concrete Walls with Triangular Reinforcement,” Proceedings of the Japan Concrete Institute, V. 40, No. 2, 2018, pp. 319-324. (in Japanese)
16. Fukuhara, Y.; Sun, Y. P.; Takeuchi, T.; and Wei, C. J., “Study on Ductility of Reinforced Concrete Rectangular Shear Wall with Diagonal Reinforcement,” Proceedings of the Japan Concrete Institute, V. 40, No. 2, 2018, pp. 325-330. (in Japanese)
17. Wei, C. X.; Sun, Y. P.; Takeuchi, T.; and Che, J. Y., “Influence of Anchorage Detailing on Seismic Behavior of Precast Concrete Walls Reinforced with SBPDN Rebars,” AIJ Journal of Structural Engineering, V. 68B, 2022, pp. 75-86. doi: 10.3130/aijjse.68B.0_75
18. Che, J. Y., and Sun, Y. P., “Experimental Study on Construction Method of Precast Drift-Hardening Concrete Walls Reinforced by SBPDN Rebars,” Structures, V. 69, 2024, pp. 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.istruc.2024.107452
19. Che, J. Y., and Sun, Y. P., “Seismic Behavior of Drift-Hardening Precast Concrete Walls Reinforced with SBPDN Rebars,” Engineering Structures, V. 308, 2024, p. 118010. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.118010
20. Wang, J. H., and Sun, Y. P., “Seismic Behaviors and Resilience of Concrete-Encased Concrete-Filled Steel Tubular Columns with Debonded High-Strength Rebars: Experiment and Assessment,” Journal of Earthquake Engineering, V. 26, No. 15, 2022, pp. 8142-8168. doi: 10.1080/13632469.2021.1989345
21. Bedriñana, L. A.; Tani, M.; Kono, S.; and Nishiyama, M., “Evaluation of the Seismic Performance of Unbonded Post-Tensioned Precast Concrete Walls with Internal and External Damper. I: Experimental Research,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, V. 148, No. 8, 2022, p. 04022105. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0003349
22. Bedriñana, L. A.; Tani, M.; Kono, S.; and Nishiyama, M., “Evaluation of the Seismic Performance of Unbonded Post-Tensioned Precast Concrete Walls with Internal and External Damper. II: Design Criteria and Numerical Research,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, V. 148, No. 8, 2022, p. 04022106. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0003395
23. Wang, J. H., “Cyclic Behaviors of Reinforced Concrete Beam-Column Joints Debonded Reinforcements and Beam Failure: Experiment and Analysis,” Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, V. 19, No. 1, 2021, pp. 101-133. doi: 10.1007/s10518-020-00974-1
24. Funato, Y.; Sun, Y. P.; Takeuchi, T.; and Cai, G. C., “Modeling and Application of Bond Characteristic of High-Strength Reinforcing Bar with Spiral Grooves,” Transactions of the Japan Concrete Institute, V. 34, No. 2, 2012, pp. 157-162. (in Japanese)
25. FEMA P-58-1, “Seismic Performance Assessment of Buildings Volume 1 – Methodology,” Applied Technology Council, Edwood City, CA, 2012.
26. Park, R., “Evaluation of Ductility of Structures and Structural Assemblages From Laboratory Testing,” Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, V. 22, No. 3, 1989, pp. 155-166. doi: 10.5459/bnzsee.22.3.155-166
27. AIJ, “AIJ Standard for Structural Calculation of Reinforced Concrete Structures,” Architectural Institute of Japan, Tokyo, Japan, 2018. (in Japanese).
28. ACI Committee 318, “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-19) and Commentary (ACI 318R-19) (Reapproved 2022),” American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 2019, 624 pp.
29. EN 1992-1-2, “Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete Structures—Part 1.2: Concrete Structures,” European Committee for Standardization, Brussels, Belgium, 2005.
30. GB 50010-2010, “Code for Design of Concrete Structures,” Ministry of Construction of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing, China, 2010. (in Chinese).
31. Wang, J. H., and Sun, Y. P., “Axial-Shear-Flexure Interactive Behavior and Completed Shear Strength Model of Reinforced Concrete Members Considering Steel-Bond Slip,” Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, V. 23, No. 5, 2025, pp. 2047-2081. doi: 10.1007/s10518-025-02115-y
32. JGJ 138-2016, “Code for Design of Composite Structures,” Ministry of Construction of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing, China, 2016. (in Chinese).
33. Arιoglu, N.; Girgin, Z. C.; and Arιoglu, E., “Evaluation of Ratio Between Splitting Tensile Strength and Compressive Strength for Concrete up to 120 MPa and its Application in Strength Criterion,” ACI Structural Journal, V. 103, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 2006, pp. 18-24.