NEHRP Clearinghouse

Title
Strength Design of Structural Walls with Particular Reference to Shear and Cyclic Loading.
File
PB287919.pdf
Author(s)
Ghosh, S. K.; Fintel, M.
Source
National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Applied Science and Research Applications., January 1976, 27 p.
Abstract
The strength design of structural walls with reference to high shear under variable, earthquake-type loading is discussed in this paper. The height-to-depth ratio has been considered as the parameter governing the mode of response of a structural (shear) wall. Short, stocky structural walls are supposed to be governed mainly by their shear strength, whereas slender walls are supposed to act like beam-columns controlled by flexure and axial load. It was shown that the parameters governing the mode of response of structural walls are the moment and shear at, and the moment capacity and shear capacity of, the critical segments. While the moments and shears can be determined from analysis, given the input motion to be expected, and while realistic estimates of moment capacity can be determined, difficulties in estimating the shear capacities leads to uncertainties and inaccuracies in prediction of response. The same difficulties may result in uncertainties in the design of such walls to prevent shear failure under earthquake-type loading. Further research should be directed towards the accurate determination of shear capacities of structural wall segments under repeated, reversed loading since such capacities are affected by the rigidity of boundary elements restraining deformation caused by shear.
Keywords
Seismic design; Earthquake resistant structures; Shear walls; Reinforced concrete; Walls; Flexural strength; Dynamic response; Buildings; Earthquake engineering; Shear strength; Structural design; Earthquakes