Are Axial Tests on Boundary Zone Prisms Able to Simulate the Failure Mechanisms Observed in Flexural RC Walls?

ABSTRACT

This study experimentally investigates the reliability of testing idealized prisms to simulate failure mechanisms in RC walls. In-plane cyclic tests on three flexural walls with different transverse reinforcement detailing and axial tests on three rectangular RC prisms idealized as wall boundary zones are conducted and the experimental responses are discussed in this paper. The results confirmed that idealized rectangular RC prisms are susceptible to failure due to the development of global out-of-plane (OOP) instability. These investigations revealed that strain distribution along the height is a key parameter influencing the failure mechanism observed in wall boundaries and idealized prism specimens.

KEYWORDS:

• Structural walls
• boundary elements
• instability
• bar buckling
• OOP deformation
• reinforced concrete

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Quake Centre, QuakeCoRE:New Zealand Centre for Earthquake Resilience.