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TESTING OF REINFORCED Concrete Walls AT MAST
Research on structural wall performance is being conducted at the Multi-Axial Subassemblage Testing (MAST) Laboratory, a truly unique testing facility with six-degrees-of-freedom control. One study focused on reinforced concrete T-wall systems to investigate effects of multidirectional loading and structural detailing on non-rectangular shaped structural core wall systems. These tests were among the first to subject large-scale reinforced concrete wall assemblages to quasistatic multidirectional loading. Flexure rotation (θf ), shear deformation (Δs ), and strain penetration components were evaluated. Associated damage was documented, garnering important information for implementation of performance-based design principles. Further, a concern
is the significant repair costs incurred because traditional structural walls
are designed to dissipate energy and accommodate deformations through the use of plastic hinges during an earthquake. Ongoing testing focuses on improving the resilience of wall systems through development of “self-centering” capabilities. [100,101]
