Modelling issues for tall reinforced concrete core wall buildings

Abstract

Reinforced concrete walls are commonly used as the primary lateral force-resisting system for tall buildings. As the tools for conducting nonlinear response history analysis have improved and with the advent of performance-based seismic design, reinforced concrete walls and core walls are often employed as the only lateral force-resisting system. Proper modelling of the load versus deformation behaviour of reinforced concrete walls and link beams is essential to accurately predict important response quantities. Given this critical need, an overview of modelling approaches appropriate to capture the lateral load responses of both slender and stout reinforced concrete walls, as well as link beams, is presented. Modelling of both flexural and shear responses is addressed, as well as the potential impact of coupled flexure-shear behaviour. Model results are compared with experimental results to assess the ability of common modelling approaches to accurately predict both global and local experimental responses. Based on the findings, specific recommendations are made for general modelling issues, limiting material strains for combined bending and axial load, and shear backbone relations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.