Experimental study and mechanism analysis of out-of-plane seismic performance of reinforced concrete shear walls

Compared with the in-plane seismic performance, the out-of-plane seismic performance of reinforced concrete shear walls is weak and usually neglected, which leads to an inadequate study of the out-of-plane damage mechanism of shear walls and a lack of clear protective measures. In order to compare the similarities and differences in seismic performance of reinforced concrete shear walls when subjected to in-plane and out-of-plane loads in different directions and to clarify the key influencing factors, low cyclic loading tests were carried out on typical shear wall specimens in both in-plane and out-of-plane directions. The moment-curvature simulations of shear wall sections in both in-plane and out-of-plane directions are analyzed. The effects of parameters such as axial pressure ratio, wall thickness, height to width ratio and concrete grade on in-plane and out-of-plane seismic performance were analyzed at the member level in combination with finite element variable parameter analysis; at the structural system level, the time history analysis of 2 frame shear wall structures for single seismic action and main-aftershock sequence is established, and the structural damage is evaluated through the maximum story drift and rotation. The results reveal that the out-of-plane seismic performance of shear walls is significantly weaker than their in-plane seismic performance, with a difference of 1/20∼1/15 times in bearing capacity, where wall thickness and aspect ratio are the main parameters affecting in-plane and out-of-plane seismic performance; when the shear walls in the structure are subjected to seismic action in the out-of-plane direction, their out-of-plane direction will undergo large deformation and damage will occur easily, especially in the Single directional wall with less structure. The out-of-plane nonlinear analysis of the cross-section can be performed more accurately and quickly by using the new principal structure model proposed in this manuscript and some traditional principal structures. In the seismic design of shear walls, both in-plane and out-of-plane seismic performance should be ensured, and the wall thickness and height to width ratio of shear walls should be reasonably controlled.