Title: Study of the Behavior of Coupled Shearwall Systems

Author(s): M. S. Mirza

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 63

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 301-328

Keywords: beams (supports); cracking (fracturing); cyclic loads; ductility; earthquake resistant structures; elastic analysis; flexural strength; hinges (structural); lateral loads; loads (forces); reinforced concrete; reinforcing steels; shear strength

DOI: 10.14359/6656

Date: 8/1/1980

Abstract:
This paper presents the results of tests on three four-storey coupled shear wall specimens tested under an equivalent of monotonically increasing static upper triangular loading. Specimens No. 1 and No. 2 failed due to rupture of reinforcing steel in both walls after hinges had been formed at both ends of all coupling beams. An overall ductility factor of 14.2 was attained for both specimens while the ductility factors for rotation in the coupling beams and the shear walls were considerably higher. Specimen No. 3 also failed due to rupture of tension steel in the shear walls, however no hinges were formed in the coupling beams and the overall ductility ratio was only 5.7. Experimental results for Specimens No. 1 and No.2 were analysed using Paulay's elastoplastic analysis. The calculated ultimate strengths showed good agreement, however the calculated deflections were smaller than the experimental values. More research is needed in this area. The results of this investigation show that small-scale models can be used effectively in behavior studies of structural subsystems such as coupled shear walls, shear wall-frame structures, etc.