Seismic response of structural walls: recent developments

Abstract

It is postulated that for purposes of seismic design, the ductile behaviour of lateral force-resisting wall components, elements, and indeed the entire system can be satisfactorily simulated by bilinear force–displacement modeling. This enables displacement relationships between the system and its constituent components at a particular limit state to be readily established. To this end, some widely used fallacies, relevant to the transition from the elastic to the plastic domain of behaviour, are exposed. A redefinition of stiffness and yield displacement allows more realistic predictions of the important feature of seismic response, component displacements, to be made. The concepts are rational, yet very simple. Their applications are interwoven with the designer's intentions. Contrary to current design practice, whereby a specific global displacement ductility capacity is prescribed for a particular structural class, the designer can determine the acceptable displacement demand to be imposed on the system. This should protect critical components against excessive displacements. Specific intended displacement demands and capacities of systems comprising reinforced concrete cantilever and coupled walls can be estimated.Key words: ductility, displacements, reinforced concrete, seismic design, stiffness, structural walls.