Lateral stability of reinforced concrete columns under axial reversed cyclic tension and compression

The maximum tensile strain that may be imposed on a ductile reinforced conc rete wall is examined in terms of the response of a reinforced concrete col umn under axial reversed cyclic tension and compression. Based on a kinemat ic relation between the axial strain and the out-of-plane displacement, and the axial force versus the axial strain response, a model was developed fo r the prediction of the maximum tensile strain. Experimental results indica ted that the model is conservative with respect to the prediction of the ma ximum tensile strain, and can be incorporated into an existing design proce dure for limiting the wall thickness of ductile planar walls.