Behaviour and design of coupled slab–structural wall systems

Abstract

This paper presents the results of tests on nine reinforced concrete slab-coupled structural wall subassemblages subjected to gradually applied reversing displacements simulating earthquake loadings. Two-third scale direct models of Taylor's Specimen No. 1 were used to study the effect of the following parameters in three phases: Phase 1, the effect of providing stirrups around the longitudinal slab steel; Phase 2, the effect of providing shallow reinforced concrete longitudinal and transverse concealed beams; and Phase 3, the effect of providing longitudinal drop panels. The experimental behaviour of the specimens is reviewed and discussed and suitable design recommendations are presented for strength and stiffness of slab–structural wall systems along with some practical guidelines to control damage in the coupling slab at higher levels of imposed deformations. Key words: coupled reinforced concrete slab–structural wall systems, damage, degradation of strength and stiffness, ductility ratio, earthquakes, gradually applied reversing displacements and loads, punching shear failures, reinforcement details, shallow coupling beams, yield lines.