Test of a Coupled Wall with High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete Coupling Beams

Results from the test of a large-scale coupled-wall specimen consisting of two T-shaped reinforced concrete structural walls joined at four levels by precast coupling beams are presented. Each coupling beam had a span length-depth ratio (ln/h) of 1.7, and was designed to carry a shear stress of 7vfc' [psi], (0.59vfc' [MPa]). One reinforced concrete coupling beam was included along with three strain-hardening, high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) coupling beams to allow a comparison of their behavior. When subjected to reversing lateral displacements, the system behaved in a highly ductile manner characterized by excellent strength retention to drifts of 3% without appreciable pinching of the lateral load versus drift hysteresis loops. The reinforced concrete structural walls showed an excellent damage tolerance in response to peak average base shear stresses of 4.4vfc' [psi], (0.34vfc' [MPa]). This paper presents the observed damage patterns in the coupling beams and the structural walls. The restraining effect provided by the structural walls to damage-induced lengthening of the coupling beams is discussed and compared with that observed in component tests. Finally, the end rotations measured in the coupling beams relative to the drift of the coupled-wall system are also presented