Title: Strength and Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Squat Shear Walls with Openings under Cyclic Loading

Author(s): V. Sivaguru and G. Appa Rao

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 118

Issue: 5

Appears on pages(s): 235-250

Keywords: fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC); shear strength; shear wall; utility opening

DOI: 10.14359/51732832

Date: 9/1/2021

Abstract:
This paper deals with experimental investigations on the performance of reinforced concrete (RC) squat walls under reverse cyclic loading with different reinforcement detailing with openings. The shear strength, lateral stiffness, ductility factor, and energy dissipation capacity of the shear walls have been found to be significantly reduced due to the openings. The reduction of shear strength, stiffness, and energy dissipation of the RC wall with openings is rapid during the subsequent consecutive cycles after the cycle in which the maximum peak load occurs. The integrity, cracking resistance, shear strength, stiffness, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity of the squat walls have been improved significantly by fibers randomly distributed in concrete with additional reinforcement detailing in the corner regions of the openings. Although the shear strength predicted by ACI 318 equations on shear walls with openings closely agrees with the test results, it does not state the shape of the opening. Further, as suggested by ACI 318, the weak plane coincides with a horizontal plane in the opening, but it does not seem to be observed from the experimental investigations.