Nonlinear behavior of reinforced concrete shear walls using macroscopic and microscopic models

This study investigates the effectiveness of a simple macroscopic model in predicting the nonlinear response of slender reinforced concrete shear walls. The model consists of nonlinear spring elements representing flexural and shear behavior. The model was implemented in ABAQUS 6.6 to allow comparison between experimental and analytical results for selected test specimens, and the analysis results show excellent agreement with experimental measurements of the specimens. The parametric studies conducted also show that the sensitivity of the model results to different modeling parameters is not significant. ear behavior of the specimens has been predicted using a microscopic model, as well, which could simulate some important aspects of the wall behavior, but the CPU time was considerably greater than that needed for the analysis of the investigated macroscopic model. Taking the CPU time and simplicity into account, the observed agreement among three lateral load–displacement curves obtained from experimental measurements, macroscopic and microscopic models of the specimens indicates the efficiency of the investigated macroscopic model.