Modeling of two-cell concrete cores for investigation of reliabality of equivalent column method

Abstract

The behavior of coupled and non coupled shear walls have been the subject of many researches in the recent past. In contrast, only little mention has been made of the shear core walls structures. Shear core walls behaviors are different of the planner shear walls. In order to model shear walls three different methods exist: one-dimensional equal elements, equal panel elements and precise finite elements. Equivalent column method is main approach in modeling by using one-dimensional equal elements. Shear core walls are modeled by the same methods. One of the key points in this study is to determine whether equivalent column method is precise in solution or not. This research focuses on the modeling of shear core wall with equivalent column method and two dimensional panel elements method. The models examined are: (a) models composed of panel elements, (b) models composed of equivalent column in different hand arrangement. These models are compared with one another and with the solution considered accurate, which is the one obtained by using a finite element method consisting of an adequately dense mesh of finite shell. It can be concluded that application of equivalent column method in cores, leads to inaccurate or even unacceptable results .This deficiency can be improved by using flexible rigid links.