EXPERIMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF LOW-ASPECT-RATIO, REINFORCED-CONCRETE SHEAR WALL STIFFNESS

Low-aspect-ratio, reinforced concrete shear walls are the primary late ral-load-carrying element in many structures designed for protective p urposes. A review of the technical literature shows that considerable uncertainty exists regarding the elastic stiffness these structures wi ll exhibit during seismic excitation. Because of this uncertainty, cur rent design practice often employs a stiffness reduction factor. In an attempt to develop accurate information regarding the stiffness of th ese structures, 13 shear wall elements were tested statically; dynamic ally, with simulated seismic base excitations on a shake table; and wi th experimental modal analysis procedures. Results of these tests show that the shear wall's stiffness can be accurately estimated with a me chanics-of-materials analysis that accounts for shear deformation.