Reinforcement contribution to the behavior of low-rise concrete walls

Abstract

Based on steel strains recorded during shake table tests of six wall specimens, the effect and contribution of steel reinforcement to peak shear strength and displacement capacity of low-rise concrete walls is assessed and discussed. The experimental program included four variables such as wall geometry, concrete type, web steel ratio and type of web reinforcement. Wall response was assessed through effective steel strains in vertical reinforcement, efficiency factors of wall reinforcement, contribution of web horizontal reinforcement to wall shear strength, and the effect of type of web reinforcement to wall displacement.

Strains on steel reinforcement of low-rise concrete walls during shake table tests

“…For example, the efficiency factor of horizontal web reinforcement was always smaller than 1.0, such as 0.86 for walls reinforced with deformed bars and the minimum code-prescribed steel ratio and 0.78 in walls using welded-wire mesh and half of the minimum specified by ACI 318-11. As it is demonstrated by Carrillo et al (2014), results of this study can be used as a tool to evaluate the contribution of reinforcement to the behavior of low-rise RC walls in terms of shear strength and displacement capacity.…”