Behavior of Three-Dimensional Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls

Abstract

Results from two large-scale flanged shear walls tested under static cyclic displacements are presented. The objectives of the tests were to provide insight into the behavior of shear walls under cyclic displacements, and more importantly, to provide data to help corroborate constitutive models for concrete exposed to arbitrary loading conditions. The results indicated that the presence of an axial load, although relatively small, and the stiffness of flange walls have a significant effect on the strength, ductility, and failure mechanisms of the shear walls. Finite element analyses using provisional constitutive models are also provided to show that the procedures employed are stable, compliant, and provide reasonably accurate simulations of behavior. The analyses presented also indicated that two-dimensional analyses capture main features of behavior, but three-dimensional analyses are required to capture some important second-order mechanisms.