Quasi-static tests of squat reinforced concrete shear walls with openings

Due to the high level of stiffness and strength, Squat Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls (SRCSWs) with or without openings are frequently utilized in various types of buildings. However, the adverse effect of openings on the seismic performance of the SRCSWs has never been investigated in detail. Therefore, for truly disclosing the seismic behaviors of the SRCSWs with openings, six 1/2.7 scale SRCSW specimens are experimentally investigated through Quasi-Static Testing (QST) in this paper. The affecting factors in terms of the Shear Span Ratio (SSR), the area ratio, and the number of openings are considered. Based on the experimental results, the seismic performance in terms of failure modes, hysteretic loops, skeleton curves, ductility factors, stiffness degradations, energy dissipations, and deformation components was analyzed and discussed. It is shown that shear failure was observed on the SRCSWs without openings, while the SRCSWs with openings are prone to flexural failure, e.g., the flexural deformation ratios ranging from 49.66% to 58.99%. It is shown from the experimental results that the area ratio and the SSR significantly affect the seismic response of SRCSWs, generally speaking, with the increase of the area ratio and/or SSR the bearing capacity and the secant stiffness are reduced. It is also shown that for the case of multi-openings, the cracks are focused on the connecting areas between two openings. The results indicate that the seismic design of SRCSWs should consider the effect of openings in order to enhance the seismic performance.