Title: Numerical Modeling of Squat RC Shear Walls with High Strength Materials

Author(s): Robert D. Devine, Steven M. Barbachyn, Yahya C. Kurama, and Ashley P. Thrall

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume:

Issue:

Appears on pages(s):

Keywords: deep beams; high-strength concrete; high-strength steel reinforcement; low aspect ratio; nonlinear modeling; shear design; shear walls; stocky walls

DOI: 10.14359/51740863

Date: 6/4/2024

Abstract:
This paper presents a numerical study to simulate the behavior of squat reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls with high-strength reinforcing steel and high-strength concrete. The numerical models are critically evaluated based on previous experiments of four deep beam specimens and four squat shear walls with varied material strengths, base moment-to-shear ratios, and section shapes (i.e., rectangular and I-shaped). Monotonic lateral load analyses provided reasonable predictions of peak lateral strength for squat walls tested under reversed-cyclic loading. However, reversed-cyclic models were necessary for accurate predictions of the cyclic lateral load versus drift behavior, including cracking, stiffness degradation, lateral load-resistance mechanism, drift at peak strength and energy dissipation. Importantly, the model predictions for specimens using high-strength materials were as good or better than the model predictions for specimens using normal-strength materials with the same base moment-to-shear ratio. Thus, the use of higher-strength materials did not negatively impact the ability of the models to predict wall behavior.