Shear Strength of Reinforced Concrete Walls with Boundary Member

Abstract

The reinforced concrete wall is frequently used in the reinforced concrete structures as seismic resistant element. This is because its effectiveness in resisting lateral shear force due to earthquake. The reinforced concrete walls are usually with columns on both sides as the boundary members and it is known as the walls of barbell shape section. The shear strength of reinforced concrete walls with boundary member, as reported in the previous literature, is larger than the shear strength of reinforced concrete walls without boundary member. The larger strength is due to the resistance of boundary members to the end conditions of wall diagonal strut. The objective of this study is to verify the influence of boundary member in reinforced concrete walls by comparing the predicted shear strength of both reinforced concrete walls with and without boundary members effect. The prediction of shear strength of reinforced concrete walls that are considered as discontinuity region uses the Softened Strut-and-Tie Model. The model is based on the condition of fully cracked wall with the diagonal compression failure. Comparison of the predicted shear strength of some specimens that available in the literature was agree that the walls with boundary member effect indicated a shear strength higher than that without boundary member effect.