Deformation Limits of L-Section RC Shear Walls

Abstract

In order to establish the relation between damage state and member deformation of the L-section RC shear wall, 216 FE models designed to meet the requirements of the Chinese codes were set up. The analysis fully considers the variation of parameters including axial load ratio and shear span ratio etc. According to the results, criteria of classifying failure modes of L-section RC shear walls are proposed. Failure modes are determined by shear-span ratio, moment-shear ratio and end columns' reinforcement ratio. Deformation limits corresponding to respective performance levels are put forward. Fitted formulas of calculating the limits are also presented. It is shown that the categorization criteria are reliably accurate in predicting failure modes. Deformation limits of a given L-section RC shear wall could be determined via axial load ratio and moment-shear ratio. The fitted formulas possess a satisfactory correlation with numerical results.