Title: Compressive Behavior of Thin Rectangular Boundary Elements

Author(s): Carlos A. Arteta and Jack P. Moehle

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 120

Issue: 2

Appears on pages(s): 171-189

Keywords: boundary element; buckling; compression test; crossties; rectangular prism; special shear wall; strain capacity

DOI: 10.14359/51737236

Date: 3/1/2023

Abstract:
A laboratory test program studied the axial compressive behavior of rectangular prisms whose geometry modeled the rectangular boundary elements of thin shear walls. A primary test variable was the arrangement of longitudinal and transverse reinforcement. The prisms experienced compressive failure involving concrete crushing and longitudinal reinforcement buckling that was concentrated along a height on the order of two to three times the prism thickness. Asymmetric spalling typically resulted in eccentric forces and led to out-of-plane instability. The localization of the compressive failures leads to the conclusion that flexural response of thin walls satisfying current detailing practices will be relatively brittle if failure is controlled by crushing of the boundary elements. Axial strain capacities are reported for regions within the specimens where plasticity concentrates.