Investigation on the Effect of Geometric Parameter on Reinforced Concrete Exterior Shear Wall-Slab Connection using Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

Finite element models are currently used for the assessment of structural behavior, which becomes more accurate and reliable. Since conducting the full experimental test is very expensive and time consuming, it is better to use numerical method to investigate the behaviors of structure because the efficiency of the model can be evaluated by the experimental result and it shows good agreement with the experimental tests. In this study a non-linear finite element analysis with ABAQUS software package has been taken to investigate the response of reinforced concrete exterior shear wall –slab connection subjected to cyclic loading. The structural responses such as load carrying capacity, energy dissipation, ductility and stiffness degradation has been studied. Using developed models parametric study have been done to investigate the effect of connection type, aspect ratio of thickness of slab to thickness of shear wall (Ts/Tw), aspect ratio of height of shear wall to effective width of the slab (H/We) and concrete grade on the load carrying capacity, energy dissipation, ductility and stiffness degradation of exterior reinforced concrete shear wall-slab connection. A total of 22 models have been used to investigate the parametric study. The results show that the exterior shear wall-slab connection with U-type connection have high load carrying capacity than the other connection type, as the aspect ratio of Ts/Tw increases the load carrying capacity and energy dissipation capacity increase, as the aspect ratio of H/We decrease or as effective width of the slab from shear wall increase the load carrying capacity and energy dissipation capacity decreases and as concrete grade increase the load carrying and energy dissipation increases.