Effect of crack control approaches around opening on out-of-plane flexural response of walls

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the effect of different crack-control devices at the re-entrant corners of openings on the out-of-plane flexural performance of reinforced concrete walls. The conventional diagonal bar arrangement, stress dispersion shell plate, and crack-control strip were arranged at each corner of the opening to control the localized diagonal tension cracks at the re-entrants. Four wall specimens with window openings were tested under constant axial loads and cyclic out-of-plane lateral loads. The actual cover thickness was considered in the prediction of the flexural strength of the walls. The out-of-plane flexural lateral load – lateral displacement response of the walls was not dependent on the crack-control devices but was appreciably affected by the cover thickness. An increase in the cover thickness leads to a decrease in the lateral load capacity and ductility. The out-of-plane moment capacity of walls could be conservatively assessed by a conventional flexural analysis procedure, such as the equivalent stress block for reinforced concrete structures, regardless of the consideration of crack-control devices.