NLFE ANALYSIS OF RC STRUCTURAL WALLS AND DESIGN IMPLICATIONS

Analytical work based on the use of a reliable finite element program has been carried out to investigate the influence of several parameters generally considered to be related to the causes of the observed behavior and strength characteristics of walls subjected to a combination of loads increasing to complete destruction. The program had been tested by comparing analytical predictions with published information obtained experimentally for a wide range of structural walls. Among the parameters investigated in the present study are the arrangement and amount of vertical and horizontal reinforcement, the detailing of the edge members, the height-to-width ratio, the axial load, and the concrete strength. The results obtained indicate that wall resistance is associated with the strength of concrete in the compressive zone in the region where the maximum moment develops and that strengthening of the compressive zone can lead to a significant increase in loadcarrying capacity, in spite of the considerable reduction of horizontal web reinforcement. © ASCE.