Full-scale testing of reinforced concrete frame buildings with attached walls considering damage control design

Abstract

Static loading tests on two full-scale reinforced concrete buildings were conducted at Building Research Institute in 2014 and 2015 to verify the effectiveness of damage control design utilizing walls. The tested buildings were five-storeys high with two bays in the direction of loading. The 2014 specimen was a moment resisting frame consisting of beams and columns with wing walls. The 2015 specimen contained wing walls, spandrels and hanging walls attached to the columns and beams. The measured strengths were much higher than the calculated strength of the bare frame without these walls. The hysteretic curves showed ductile behaviour in the 2014 specimen until ultimate drift, while strength deterioration was observed in the 2015 specimen. From the cracking pattern and the storey drift distributions within the specimens, the first specimen formed a beam sway mechanism, and the second specimen formed a mixed mechanism with column yielding between the 1 to 3 storeys. The residual cracks of the specimens were generally wider due to the concentration of the plastic hinge region, although the damage was evaluated as slight at 0.33% drift and as minor at 0.75% based on the residual energy capacity. Damage grades evaluated from the residual energy capacity were obviously smaller than the damage grades evaluated from the residual crack widths in accordance with the damage evaluation guidelines.