NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Shear Transfer in Thick Walled Reinforced Concrete Structures Under Seismic Loading.
- File
- PB285970.pdf
- Author(s)
- White, R. N.; Gergely, P.
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Applied Science and Research Applications., May 1978, 248 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- 78-2
- Abstract
- The project had three major goals: (1) to understand the mechanism of cyclic shear stress transfer in cracked thick-walled reinforced concrete structures; (2) to incorporate mathematical models of the shear transfer mechanism into computer-based analysis methods for determining structural response to earthquakes; and (3) to provide experimental and analytical background material for formulation of improved design procedures that would result in better and less costly designs without sacrificing safety. Experiments on large specimens of cracked concrete were conducted. Various types of shear transfer were studied for a wide range of variables. It was found that the behavior of concrete and steel in the structure can be predicted with reasonable accuracy. A simplified model of this behavior is being completed. The computer-based analysis program gives reliable predictions of forces, stresses, overall deformations, and displacements of thick-walled concrete structures subjected to earthquake forces. From these studies, it is possible to rely upon some shear transfer capacity from the combination of normal vertical and horizontal steel and the inherent roughness of the crack surface in the concrete in reinforced containment vessels and similar structures. This saves reinforcing steel and permits a more rational design.
- Keywords
- Earthquake resistant structures; Seismic loads; Earth movements; Walls; Structural design; Dynamic response; Earthquake engineering; Concrete structures; Computer programs; Computer aided design; Shear stresses; Dynamic structural analysis