Energy Characterization Through OpenSees Nonlinear Simulation of Shear Walls Without Confined Boundary Zones

Understanding the behavior of nonconforming RC shear walls is crucial in the energy-based seismic assessment and response prediction of existing buildings constructed without following modern seismic standards. Macroscopic numerical modeling approach is very effective and practical in simulating the behavior of reinforced concrete elements in general and shear walls in particular. Using the available materials and elements in the OpenSees domain it is feasible to construct numerical models that can predicate the hysteretic response and energy dissipation of shear walls without confined boundary zones found in old and existing buildings. A simple and practical macro model based on the fiber beam-column element is developed to reproduce the behavior of shear walls without confined boundary zones. The developed OpenSees model performance is benchmarked against experimentally tested shear walls from the literature. Furthermore, utilizing two of the most important energy-based dissipation parameters the dissipated energy characteristics are investigated and compared between the numerical model and the experimental test. As a result, the developed OpenSees based numerical model can simulate the behavior of old and existing shear walls without seismic detailing, and can be used in the evaluation procedures in terms of effective stiffness, maximum lateral capacity, ductility, and dissipated energy characteristics.