• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.469-482
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• 2000

A numerical study using nonlinear finite element analysis is performed to investigate the behavior of isolated reinforced concrete walls subjected to combined axial force and in-plane and out-of-plane bending moments. For a nonlinear finite element analysis, a computer program addressing material and geometric nonlinearities was developed. Through numerical studies, the internal force distribution in the cross-section is idealized, and then a new design method, different from the existing methods based on the plane section hypothesis was developed. According to the proposed method, variations in the interaction curve of the in-plane bending moment and axial force depends on the range of the permissible axial force per unit length, that is determined by a given amount of out-of-plane bending moment. As the out-of-plane bending moment increases, the interaction curve shrinks, indicating a decrease in the ultimate strength. The proposed method is then compared with an existing method, using the plane section hypothesis. Compared with the proposed method, the existing method overestimates the ultimate strength for the walls subjected to low out-of-plane bending moments, while it underestimates the ultimate strength for walls subject to high out-of-plane bending moments. The proposed method can address the out-of-plane local behavior of the individual wall segments that may govern the ultimate strength of the entire wall.

• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.113-124
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• 1998

Numerical study using nonlinear finite element analysis is done for investigating behavior of isolated reinforced concrete walls subject to combined in-plane and out-of-plane bending moments and axial force. A method for estimating the ultimate strength of wall is developed, based on the analytical results. For the nonlinear finite element analysis, a computer program addressing material and geometric nonlinearities is developed. An existing unified method combining plasticity theory and damage model is used for material model of reinforced concrete. By numerical studies, the internal force distribution in the cross section is idealized, and a new method for estimating the ultimate strength of wall is developed. According to the proposed method, variation of the interaction curve of in-plane bending moment and axial force depends on the range of the permissible axial force per unit length that is determined by the given amount of out-of-plane bending moment. As the out-of-plane bending moment increases, the interaction curve shrinks, which indicates a decrease in the ultimate strength. The proposed method is compared with an existing method using the general assumption that strain shall be directly proportional to the distance from the neutral axis. Compared with the proposed method, the existing method overestimates the ultimate strength for walls subject to low out-of-plane bending moments, and it underestimates the ultimate strength for walls subject to high out-of-plane bending moments.