NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Mechanical Behavior of Shear Wall Vertical Boundary Members: An Experimental Investigation.
- File
- PB83159764.pdf
- Author(s)
- Wagner, M. T.; Bertero, V. V.
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC., October 1982, 78 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- UCB/EERC-82/18
- Abstract
- An experimental program has been formulated to examine the behavior of confined edge members in reinforced concrete wall systems subjected to seismic excitations. This report describes the design and construction of the testing facility required to conduct such a program and discusses the first series of experiments and results. Eight specially shaped concrete specimens were tested to assess the mechanical characteristics of edge members. These specimens were designed to simulate one-third scale models of the edge members in a prototype 15-story, barbell-shaped wall. Four of the specimens were cast with circular spiral reinforcement while the remainder were unreinforced. None of the specimens were longitudinally reinforced. Both monotonic and cyclic shear loading were applied in combination with axial forces to the study of both monotonic and hysteretic responses of the specimens to shear loading. The effect of transverse cracks, whose widths were axially restrained, on both of the above responses, was also investigated. Experimental results indicated that high compressive forces lead to high shear resistance accompanied by large shear stiffness. The desirability of avoiding the formation of wide cracks that remain open became apparent. Recommendations are given for further research.
- Keywords
- Earthquake resistant structures; Reinforced concrete; Test facilities; Walls; Earthquake engineering; Theses; Simulation; Loads (Forces)