Title:
Experimental Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Frames Filled with Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls
Author(s):
Erato Oikonomopoulou, Vasiliki Palieraki, Elizabeth Vintzileou, and Giovacchino Genesio
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
123
Issue:
2
Appears on pages(s):
43-58
Keywords:
post-installed connectors; reinforced concrete (RC) interfaces; seismic retrofit; shear walls
DOI:
10.14359/51749165
Date:
3/1/2026
Abstract:
Filling reinforced concrete (RC) frame spans with RC shear walls constitutes a strategic intervention to existing sub-standard buildings. The efficiency of this intervention depends, among others, on the behavior of interfaces between the shear wall and the frame elements. The failure of critical interfaces that may lead to undesirable shear sliding of the wall at its base can only be prevented if the interfaces are adequately designed. To investigate the cyclic behavior of interfaces within the composite frame-to-wall members, four frames filled with RC walls, as well as two reference specimens (that is, a bare frame and a monolithic frame/wall specimen), were subjected to cyclic horizontal displacements. The crucial effect of the interface reinforcement ratio, the detailing, the dowel distribution along the interface, and the embedment length on the behavior of the specimens, in terms of maximum capacity, drift, and failure mode, was confirmed.
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