Concepedia

Abstract

TO determine effects of centrally located openings on earthquakeresistant structural walls, two 1/3‐scale structural wall specimens were tested. Specimen CI‐1 was an isolated wall with no openings, designed according to UBC and ACI recommendations. Specimen PW‐1 was nominally identical to specimen CI‐1 except for openings at every floor level. Reinforcement details around openings were selected to represent current design practice. Specimen PW‐1 had an opening‐to‐wall area ratio of 8.33%. Lintels in specimen PW‐1 had a shear span‐to‐depth ratio of 0.35. Similar load histories representing severe earthquakes were applied to both specimens, whose behavior was then compared. Effects of openings on strength and deformation were determined.