Experimental and Analytical Studies on H-Shaped Reinforced Concrete Squat Walls

Abstract

Reinforced concrete H-shaped squat walls are the primary lateral-load-carrying element in structures designed for protective purposes. To provide insight into their seismic responses, four H-shaped reinforced concrete (RC) squat walls were tested under lateral horizontal displacements and low levels of axial compression. Among them, two were imposed with lateral loading 45 degrees from the web to explore their behaviors under non-principal bending action. The seismic performance of specimens was discussed in terms of cracking patterns, failure mechanisms, hysteretic responses, deformation components, and strain profiles. To account for the vertical slip planes observed in HP5D0, an analytical model was developed, which revealed the deformation incompatibility reached its maximum at the height of 0.42hw. Based on cracking patterns, free body diagrams were also proposed to describe the force-transfer mechanism and to assess the peak shear strength of H-shaped squat walls. The proposed equations proved to be more accurate than those in ACI 318-14.