Title:
Adoption and Changes to the ACI 318 for Seismic Design of Shear Wall Buildings in the Chilean Design Code
Author(s):
Leonardo Massone
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
ws_S26_LeonardoMassone.pdf
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
3/29/2026
Abstract:
This presentation summarizes a series of changes considered to modify the Chilean design code (NCh430), based on the ACI 318-19 code. A displacement-based approach is maintained for detailing wall boundary elements and also for establishing damage limits, including a maximum compressive strain (0.8%), and a maximum tensile strain (3%). The elastic component can be considered for strain calculations, allowing the exclusion of wall segments that do not require special detailing, but in this case, the plastic hinge length is reduced to 0.3lw since inelastic incursion in Chilean buildings is expected to be moderate. Finally, capacity design for walls, recently incorporated into ACI 318, is a necessity that recognizes that linear models are unable to anticipate the increase in shear forces. Although incorporated, the expected flexural overstrength in walls will depend on the level of inelastic inclusion to avoid overdesign in low-rise buildings or buildings founded in hard soil. On the other hand, dynamic shear amplification can be disregarded, since, for moderate inelastic incursion in a shear wall building with low-coupling action given by slabs, the amplification is small. These changes aim to continue improving design while maintaining the best practices that have led to successful performance in the past.