Title: Experimental Assessment of T-Shaped Reinforced Concrete Squat Walls

Author(s): Jiaxing Ma, Zhongwen Zhang, and Bing Li

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 115

Issue: 3

Appears on pages(s): 621-634

Keywords: effective stiffness; lateral loading direction; reinforced concrete; seismic performance; shear lag effect; squat walls; T-shaped

DOI: 10.14359/51701294

Date: 5/1/2018

Abstract:
Reinforced concrete (RC) T-shaped walls have been studied by many researchers over the past decades due to their popularity. Among them, however, few investigations are conducted regarding T-shaped squat walls, especially for their seismic behaviors under nonprincipal bending action. To build the database and improve the understanding of structural walls, reversed cyclic tests of four RC T-shaped squat walls were conducted under displacement control. The variables were axial loads and lateral loading directions. Seismic responses of specimens were presented and assessed in detail from various aspects. Nonlinear section analyses and finite element modeling were also performed to facilitate investigations. The results indicated a significant shear lag effect exited in some T-shaped squat walls, which distinctly affected the strength and stiffness of test specimens. It was also found the impact of the shear lag effect increased with additional axial loads, and decreased as the test progressed.