Cracking in shear walls in seismic situation: experimental results and analytical predictions

Abstract

This paper is a contribution to the analysis of skew cracking (orientation, spacing, maximum and residual crack width) in reinforced concrete shear walls subjected to seismic loading. First, it presents the experimental campaign of the French national research project CEOS.fr and several test results obtained by different measurement techniques applied on the test specimens. Although the tests were carried out under cyclic conditions, with or without reversing the direction, the obtained information could be compared with the results given by the application of the design codes, based on the post-treatment of stresses evaluated by a structural analysis. To that end, the reinforced concrete shear wall specimen is modelled by the Finite Element software Code_ASTER, using different constitutive models. Structural modelling is a crucial phase for a good assessment of crack width. This article proposes procedures to calculate crack width based on the fib Model Code 2010 approach with appropriate complements; this approach leads to a good agreement to the experimental results. Finally, the article presents and discusses the effects of the cyclic loading at Ultimate Limit State, as the values of residual crack width under reversing load cycles. The study of all these aspects results in operational procedures for engineering applications.