It is very hard to represent the inelastic behavior of structures using only analytical method. For this reason, importance of experimental study is emphasized. There are some experimental methods to test earthquake resistance capacity of structures. Quasi-static test is used to investigate inelastic behavior of R.C. shear walls
Experimental technique that can control more realistic loading condition of lower part concentrated inelastic deformations in structures is proposed in the present study. Original structures are transformed into two-degree-of-freedom system to control shear force and base moment of the first story. Using proposed experimental technique, five R.C. shear walls which have three kinds of sectional properties are tested.
Test results show important characteristics of R.C. structures such as stiffness degradation and pinching effect. To estimate inelastic behavior of R.C. shear walls from the test results, the change of strength, degradation of stiffness, and energy dissipation are investigated. To compare with earthquake resistance capacities according to sectional property of R.C. shear walls, displacement ductility and hysteretic energy ductility are introduced. Failure mode is mainly affected by bending rather than shear which can induce abrupt failure.
As a result, SW3, that has very profitable section which can induce bending failure mechanism, shows good capacity for all characteristics.
