Strain-based performance evaluation of planar flexural reinforced concrete walls

This study enables the prediction of seismic damage to planar flexural reinforced concrete (RC) walls by using a simple numerical tool. Strain limits for concrete and longitudinal reinforcement are established for the conceptual damage levels (damage levels I, II, III, and IV) outlined in the Japanese guidelines for post-earthquake damage evaluation. The strain limits are validated against experimental data from 27 previously tested RC wall specimens with different geometry-, section-, loading-, and material-related parameters, using a force-based beam-column element model with a modified Gauss-Radau plastic hinge integration rule and regularized material models. The results indicate that experimental damages at the drift ratio corresponding to the proposed strain limits align with the damage descriptions of the specified damage levels. The drifts at the proposed strain limits are compared with those obtained using the acceptance criteria for the three performance levels (IO, LS, and CP) in ASCE/SEI 41-23 to give a tentative understanding of their alignment with established performance standards.