Experimental analysis of RC and SPRC squat shear walls

Abstract

Squat shear walls employed in nuclear power plants and high-rise buildings often undergo shear failure and exhibit poor ductility. The introduction of built-in steel plate improves the bearing capacity and ductility of shear walls. In this study, experiments were conducted to investigate the bearing and deformation capacity of squat steel plate reinforced concrete composite walls (SPRCW) and traditional reinforced concrete walls (RCW). Key parameters included the axial compression ratio, thickness of steel plates, and loading procedures. Specimens with axial compression ratio of 0.5 demonstrated high bearing capacity and poor ductility with sudden failure. Compared with RCWs, the bearing capacity of SPRCWs with 2 mm and 4 mm thickness steel plate was improved by 13 % and 40 %, respectively, whereas their ductility decreased by 29 % and 4 %, respectively, due to sudden welding failure. The bearing capacity of asymmetric-loaded specimens was slightly smaller than that of symmetric-loaded specimens, however, the ductility of asymmetric-loaded specimens was approximately 15 % greater than that of symmetric-loaded specimens, indicating that the overall damage to concrete significantly impacts ductility. Principal strains calculated from strain gauge rosettes revealed the failure path of SPRCW beginning in the interior of the wall and gradually expanding to the surface. Finally, calculation formulas for the bearing capacity of SPRCW were compared based on the experimental data. The values predicted by JGJ 138 were close to the experimental results, whereas AISC 341 was more conservative.