• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.565-583
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• 2013

Existing numerical models for strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC) are short of providing sufficiently accurate solutions to the failure patterns of coupling beams of different designs. The objective of this study is to develop an effective model that is capable of simulating the nonlinear behavior of SHCC coupling beams subjected to cyclic loading. The beam model proposed in this study is a macro-scale plane stress model. The effects of cracks on the macro-scale behavior of SHCC coupling beams are smeared in an anisotropic model. In particular, the influence of the defined crack orientations on the simulation accuracy is explored. Extensive experimental data from coupling beams with different failure patterns are employed to evaluate the validity of the proposed SHCC coupling beam models. The results show that the use of the suggested shear stiffness retention factor for damaged SHCC coupling beams is able to effectively enhance the simulation accuracy, especially for shear-critical SHCC coupling beams. In addition, the definition of crack orientation for damaged coupling beams is found to be a critical factor influencing the simulation accuracy.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.117-124
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• 2014

Diagonal reinforced coupling beam of coupled shear walls can provide sufficient strength and stiffness to resist lateral force. However, the reinforcement details for coupling beams required by ACI 318 (2011) are difficult to construct because of the reinforcement congestion and confined interior area. This study presents experimental results about the seismic performance of coupling beams having bundled diagonal reinforcement to improve the workability. Experiments were conducted using half scaled precast coupling beams having an aspect ratio of 2.0. It was observed that the bundled diagonal reinforced coupling beams can develop seismic performance similar to the coupling beams with requirement details specified in ACI 318 (2011).

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.107-120
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• 2014

A Reinforced concrete (RC) shear wall system with coupling beams has been known as one of the most promising structural systems for high-rise buildings. However, significantly large flexural and/or shear stress demands induced in the coupling beams require special reinforcement details to avoid their undesirable brittle failure. In order to solve this problem, one of promising candidates is frictional hysteretic energy dissipating devices (HEDDs) as an alternative to the coupling beams. The introduction of frictional HEDDs into a RC shear wall system increases energy dissipation capacity and maintains the frame action after their yielding. This paper investigates the strength demands (specifically yield strength levels) with a maximum allowable ductility of frictional HEDDs based on comparative non-linear time-history analyses of a prototype RC shear wall system with traditional RC coupling beams and frictional HEDDs. Analysis results show that the RC shear wall systems coupled by frictional HEDDs with more than 50% yield strength of the RC coupling beams present better seismic performance compared to the RC shear wall systems with traditional RC coupling beams. This is due to the increased seismic energy dissipation capacity of the frictional HEDD. Also, it is found from the analysis results that the maximum allowable ductility demand of a frictional HEDD should increase as its yield strength decreases.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.279-301
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• 2007

When coupling beams are proportioned appropriately in coupled core wall (CCW) systems, the input energy from ground motions is dissipated primarily through inelastic deformations in plastic hinge regions at the ends of the coupling beams. It is desirable that the plastic hinges form at the beam ends while the base wall piers remain elastic. The strength and stiffness of the coupling beams are, therefore, crucial if the desired global behavior of the CCW system is to be achieved. This paper presents the results of nonlinear response history analysis of two 20-story CCW buildings. Both buildings have the same geometric dimensions, and the components of the buildings are designed based on the equivalent lateral force procedure. However, one building is fitted with steel coupling beams while the other is fitted with diagonally reinforced concrete coupling beams. The force-deflection relationships of both beams are based on experimental data, while the moment-curvature and axial load-moment relationships of the wall piers are analytically generated from cross-sectional fiber analyses. Using the aforementioned beam and wall properties, nonlinear response history analyses are performed. Superiority of the steel coupling beams is demonstrated through detailed evaluations of local and global responses computed for a number of recorded and artificially generated ground motions.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.361-368
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• 2016

Coupling beams serve as primary source of energy dissipation in coupled shear wall systems during large earthquakes. However, the overestimation of the shear strength of diagonally reinforced coupling beams may be adverse effect on the seismic performance of coupled shear wall systems. In order to force coupling beams to properly work during earthquakes, coupling beams should be designed with accurate shear strength equations. The objective of this study is to propose the accurate shear strength equation for slender diagonally reinforced coupling beams. For this purpose, experimental tests were conducted using three diagonally reinforced coupling specimens with different amount of transverse reinforcement under reversed cyclic loads to evaluate the hysteretic behavior of the specimens. The test results show that transverse reinforcement of slender diagonally reinforced coupling beam affects the maximum strength and drift ratio.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.757-769
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• 2019

The seismic performance of a coupled shear wall system is governed by the shear resistances of its coupling beams. The plate-reinforced composite (PRC) coupling beam is a newly developed form of coupling beam that exhibits high deformation and energy dissipation capacities. In this study, the shear capacity of plate-reinforced composite coupling beams was investigated. The shear strengths of PRC coupling beams with low span-to-depth ratios were calculated using a softened strut-and-tie model. In addition, a shear mechanical model and calculating method were established in combination with a multi-strip model. Furthermore, a simplified formula was proposed to calculate the shear strengths of PRC coupling beams with low span-to-depth ratios. An analytical model was proposed based on the force mechanism of the composite coupling beam and was proven to exhibit adequate accuracy when compared with the available test results. The comparative results indicated that the new shear model exhibited more reasonable assessment accuracy and higher reliability. This method included a definite mechanical model and reasonably reflected the failure mechanisms of PRC coupling beams with low span-to-depth ratios not exceeding 2.5.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.271-278
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• 2013

The hysteretic behavior of diagonal reinforced coupling beams is excellent during earthquakes. However, construction of the diagonal reinforced coupling beams is difficult due to complex reinforcement details required by current code procedures (ACI 318-11). Due to the detail requirement, reinforcement congestion and interference among transverse reinforcement always occur during construction field. When the aspect ratio of the beam is large, the interference of reinforcement becomes more serious. The objective of this paper is to simplify the reinforcement details of slender coupling beams by reducing transverse reinforcement around the beam perimeter. For this purpose, high- performance fiber reinforced cementitious composites are used for making coupling beams. Experiments were conducted using three specimens having aspect ratio 3.5. Test results showed that HPFRCC coupling beams with half the transverse reinforcement required by ACI 318-11 provided identical seismic capacities to the corresponding coupling beams having requirement satisfying the requirement specified in ACI 318-11.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.149-172
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• 2007

An experimental study of five full-scale coupling beam specimens has been conducted to investigate the seismic behavior of strengthened RC coupling beams by bolted side steel plates using a reversed cyclic loading procedure. The strengthened coupling beams are fabricated with different plate thicknesses and shear connector arrangements to study their respective effects on load-carrying capacity, strength retention, stiffness degradation, deformation capacity, and energy dissipation ability. The study revealed that putting shear connectors along the span of coupling beams produces no significant improvement to the structural performance of the strengthened beams. Translational and rotational partial interactions of the shear connectors that would weaken the load-carrying capacity of the steel plates were observed and measured. The hierarchy of failure of concrete, steel plates, and shear connectors was identified. Furthermore, detailed effects of plate buckling and various arrangements of shear connectors on the post-peak behavior of the strengthened beams are discussed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.563-580
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• 2010

Composite beams using bolts to attach steel plates to the side faces of existing reinforced concrete (RC) coupling beams can enhance both their strength and deformability. The behavior of those composite beams differs substantially from the behavior of typical composite beams made up of steel beams and concrete slabs. The former are subjected to longitudinal, vertical and rotational slips, while the latter only involve longitudinal slip. In this study, a mixed analysis method was adopted to develop the fundamental equations for accurate prediction of the load-carrying capacity of steel plate strengthened RC coupling beams. Then, a rigid plastic analysis technique was used to cope with the full composite effect of the bolt group connections. Two theoretical models for the determination of the strength of medium-length plate strengthened coupling beams based on mixed analysis and rigid plastic methods are presented. The strength of the strengthened coupling beams is derived. The vertical and longitudinal slips of the steel plates and the shear strength of the anchor-bolt connection group is considered. The theoretical models are validated by the available experimental results presented in a companion paper. The strength of the specimens predicted from the mixed analysis model is found to be in good agreement with that from the experimental results.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.261-271
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• 2018

Fiber reinforced cementitious composites (FRCC) materials that exhibit strain-hardening and multiple cracking properties under tension were recently developed as innovative building materials for construction. This study aims at exploring the use of FRCC on the seismic performance of coupling beams with conventional reinforcement. Experimental tests were conducted on seven FRCC precast coupling beams with small span-to-depth ratios and one ordinary concrete coupling beam for comparison. The crack and failure modes of the specimens under the low cycle reversed loading were observed, and the hysteretic characteristics, deformation capacity, energy dissipation capacity and stiffness degradation were also investigated. The results show that the FRCC coupling beams have good ductility and energy dissipation capacities compared with the ordinary concrete coupling beam. As the confinement stirrups and span-to-depth ratio increase, the deformation capacity and energy dissipation capacity of coupling beams can be improved significantly. Finally, based on the experimental analysis and shear mechanism, a formula for the shear capacity of the coupling beams with small span-to-depth ratios was also presented, and the calculated results agreed well with the experimental results.