Shaking table test of reinforced concrete coupled shear walls with single layer of web reinforcement and inclined steel bars

In this study, five 1/4 scaled shaking table tests were conducted to investigate the seismic performance of reinforced concrete coupled shear walls with single layer of web reinforcement and inclined steel bars. The five tested coupled shear walls included three models with normal opening ratio (19%) and two models with large hole ratio (27%). The three models with normal opening included one model with single layer of web reinforcement, two models with single layer of web reinforcement and 75° inclined steel bars in the limbs’ web or at the bottom. Two reinforced concrete coupled shear walls with large hole and single row of reinforcements also were tested with inclined reinforcements or without them. The dynamic characteristics, dynamic response, and failure mode of each model were compared and analyzed. The test and analysis results demonstrate that the inclined steel bars are identified as an efficient means of limiting overall deformation, increasing energy dissipation, and reducing the possible damage by earthquake for reinforced concrete coupled shear walls with single layer of web reinforcement. Thus, reinforced concrete coupled shear walls with inclined steel bars have better seismic performance than reinforced concrete coupled shear walls without inclined steel bars. With appropriate design, reinforced concrete coupled shear walls with single layer of web reinforcement and inclined steel bars can be applied in multi-story buildings.