Behaviour of high-strength concrete flexural walls

Abstract

This paper discusses the behaviour and strength of high-strength (> 68·7 MPa) concrete structural walls. The information will also enhance the current database for the improvement of design recommendations. The objectives of the present test were to investigate the effect of parameters such as axial load and transverse (horizontal) reinforcement on the behaviour of high-strength concrete flexural walls, and to examine the applicability of the ACI Building Code strength design provision for predicting the strength of high-strength concrete walls. To attain the objectives, five one-third scale framed wall specimens were designed, constructed, and tested. The walls tested were 1·20 m wide, 2·00 m high and 85 mm thick with 180 mm × 180 mm boundary elements. The axial-load ratio was found to have a significant effect on the flexural strength, failure mode and ductility of high-strength concrete structural walls. At a higher level of vertical load, lateral resistance of the wall was improved, but ductility and deformability decreased. The reduction of the horizontal web reinforcement to almost half of the value specified by the ACI Building Codes does not significantly affect the failure load and the hysteretic behaviour.