INTERNATIONALJOURNALOFCIVILANDSTRUCTURALENGINEERING

Volume2,No 2,2011
Copyright2010AllrightsreservedIntegratedPublishingservices

Researcharticle

ISSN0976 4399

AnalysisofFlangedShearWallUsingAnsysConcreteModel

GreeshmaS1, JayaKP2,AnniletSheejaL3
1AssistantProfssor(SeniorGrade)
2AssociateProfessor,
3FormerP.G.Student,
DivisionofStructuralEngineering,DepartmentofCivilEngineering,Collegeof
Engineering,Guindy,AnnaUniversity,Chennai 600025.
greeshmas@annauniv.edu
ABSTRACT
The frequent occurrence of the major earthquakes in the Indian subcontinent, and
construction of tall buildings, especially over the last two decades demands for the
construction of earthquake resistant buildings. Many of the tall buildings had collapsed in
recent earthquakes and the reasons attributed were poor design and construction practices.
Theobjectiveofthisworkistodiscussthepossibilitiesofmodelingreinforcementdetailing
ofreinforcedconcretemodelsinpracticaluse.Tocarryouttheanalyticalinvestigations,the
structure is modeled in a Finite Element software ANSYS. The specimens are modeled as
(i)discretemodeland(ii)smearedmodel.Itreportstheresultsoftheanalysisoftheflanged
shear wall with two differenttypes of modeling under cyclic loading. The consequences of
smallchangesinmodelingarediscussedanditisshownthatsatisfactoryresultsareobtained
fromthetwomodels.
Keywords: ShearWall,Modeling,Cyclicloading,Smeared,Discrete.
1.Introduction
Earthquakes demonstrate vulnerability of various inadequate structures, every time they
occur. The lessons taught from the aftermath of earthquakes and the research works being
carried out in laboratories give better understanding about the performance of the structure
andtheircomponents.Damageinreinforcedconcretestructureswasmainlyattributedtothe
inadequatedetailingofreinforcement,lackoftransversesteelandconfinementofconcretein
structuralelements.Typicalfailureswerebrittleinnature,demonstratinginadequatecapacity
todissipateandabsorbinelasticenergy.Thisnecessitatesabetterunderstandingofthedesign
anddetailingofthereinforcedconcretestructuresundervarioustypesofloading.
Anextensivedescriptionofpreviousstudiesontheunderlyingtheoryandtheapplicationof
the finite element method to the linear and nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete
structures is presented in excellent stateoftheart reports by the American Society of Civil
Engineers in 1982 [ASCE 1982]. The results from the FEA are significantly relied on the
stressstrain relationship of the materials, failure criteria chosen, simulation of the crack of
concreteandtheinteractionofthereinforcementandconcrete.Becauseofthesecomplexity
in short and longterm behavior of the constituent materials, the ANSYS finite element
program introduces a threedimensional element Solid65 which is capable of cracking and
crushing and is then combined along with models of the interaction between the two
constituentstodescribethebehaviorofthecompositereinforcedconcretematerial.Although
theSolid65candescribethereinforcingbars,thisstudyusesanadditionalelement,Link8,to

ReceivedonOctober2011Publishedon November 2011

454

AnalysisofFlangedShearWallUsingAnsysConcreteModel
GreeshmaS,JayaKP,AnniletSheejaL

investigatethestressalongthereinforcementbecause itis inconvenienttocollectthesmear

rebardatafromSolid65.
2.ResearchSignificance
Antonio F. Barbosa et al (2000) presented a paper considering the practical application of
nonlinear models in the analysis of reinforced concrete structures. The results of some
analysesperformedusingthereinforcedconcretemodelofthegeneralpurposefiniteelement
code ANSYS are presented and discussed. The differences observed in the response of the
same reinforced concrete beam as some variations are made in a material model that is
always basicallythesameareemphasized.Theconsequencesofsmallchanges in modeling
arediscussedanditisshownthatsatisfactoryresultsmaybeobtainedfromrelativelysimple
and limited models. He took a simply supported reinforced concrete beam subjected to
uniformly distributed loading has been analyzed. P. Fanning (2001) did research on non
linear models of reinforced concrete beams. The requirement to include the nonlinear
response of reinforced concrete in capturing the ultimate response of ordinarily reinforced
beams demands the use of the dedicated Solid65 element in ANSYS. The internal
reinforcements were modeled using three dimensional spar elements with plasticity, Link8,
embedded within the solid mesh. Finite element models of ordinarily reinforced concrete
beamsandposttensionedconcretebeams,developedinANSYSusingtheconcreteelement
(Solid 65) have accurately captured the nonlinear flexural response of these systems up to
failure.AnthonyJ.Wolanski,B.S(2004)didresearchontheflexuralbehaviorofreinforced
and prestressed concrete beams using finite element analysis. The two beams that were
selected for modeling were simply supported and loaded with two symmetrically placed
concentrated transverse loads. Qi Zhang (2004) presented the application of finite element
method for the numerical modeling of punching shear failure mode using ANSYS. The
author investigated the behaviour of slabcolumn connections reinforced with Glass Fibre
Reinforced Polymers (GFRPs). SOLID65 and LINK8 elements represented concrete and
reinforcing steel bars respectively. A quarter of the fullsize slabcolumn connections, with
properboundaryconditions,wereusedinANSYSformodeling.Theauthorreportedthatthe
general behaviour of the finite element models represented by the loaddeflection plots at
centreshowgoodagreementwiththetestdata.However,thefiniteelement modelsshowed
slightlyhigherstiffnessthanthetestdatainboththelinearandnonlinearranges.
3.DesignandDetailingofFlangedShearWall
3.1Structureandanalyticalmodel
A six storey RC building in zone III on medium soil is analyzed using the software
STAAD PRO. The analytical model is shown in Figure 1. It is assumed that no parking
floor for the building. Seismic analysis is performed using Equivalent lateral force method
giveninIS1893:2002andalsobydynamicanalysis.
DescriptionofStructure
NoofbaysinXdirection
NoofbaysinYdirection
Storyheight
Columnsize

=
=
=
=

3m
3m
3.5m
0.45mx0.3m
455

InternationalJournalofCivilandStructuralEngineering
Volume2Issue 2 2011

AnalysisofFlangedShearWallUsingAnsysConcreteModel
GreeshmaS,JayaKP,AnniletSheejaL

Beamsize
Densityofconcrete
Liveloadonroof
Liveloadonfloors
Floorfinish
Brickwallonperipheralbeams
Brickwalloninternalbeams
Densityofbrickwall

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

0.3mx0.45m
25kN/m3
1.5kN/m2
3kN/m2
1kN/m2
230mm
150mm
20kN/m3

Figure1:Analyticalmodel
3.2Computationofdesignforces
The shear forces, bending moments and axial forces atthe bottom of the shear wall for the
13 load combinations (IS 1893(Part 1): 2002) are obtained. Seismic analysis is performed
usingEquivalentlateralforcemethodandalsobydynamicanalysis.
3.3DesignofFlangedShearWall
Thedesignmoment,shearandaxialforceatthebaseoftheflangedshearwallforalengthof
2.5mobtainedfromtheanalysisare4532.97kNm,285.28kNand2038.74kNrespectively.
TheflangedshearwallisdesignedforthesecriticalforcesasperIS13920:1993AnnexureI.
Reinforcementdetailsofshearwallareshownin Table1andFigure2.

456
InternationalJournalofCivilandStructuralEngineering
Volume2Issue 2 2011

AnalysisofFlangedShearWallUsingAnsysConcreteModel
GreeshmaS,JayaKP,AnniletSheejaL

Table1:Reinforcementdetailsofflangedshearwall

Shearwall
(Web)

Verticalbars

16mmbars@200mmc/c.

Horizontalbars

10mmbars@200mmc/c.

Lateralties

8mmbars@300mmc/c.

Figure2:Reinforcementdetailsofshearwall
4.FiniteElementModeling
TheflangedshearwallisanalysedusingthefiniteelementsoftwareANSYS.Themodeling
has been carried out in two ways, (i) discrete modeling and (ii) smeared modeling. For
discretemodel,thesmearedreinforcementcapabilityoftheSolid65elementisturnedofffor
thecorrespondingrealconstant.Here,Solid65elementisusedtomodeltheconcretewhile
Link8elementisusedtorepresentthereinforcement.
ANSYSprovidesathreedimensionaleightnodedsolidisoparametricelement,SOLID65,to
modeltheconcrete.Thiselementhaseightnodeswiththreedegreesoffreedomateachnode
translations in the nodal x, y and z directions. This element is capable of plastic
deformation,crackinginthreeorthogonaldirectionsandcrushing.Link8,threedimensional
sparelementisauniaxialtensioncompressionelementwiththreedegreesoffreedomateach
node translations in the nodal x, y and z directions. Plasticity, creep, swelling, stress
stiffeningandlargedeflectioncapabilitiesareincluded.
4.1SectionalProperties(RealConstants)
For discrete model, since there is no rebar data, the real constants (volume ratio and
orientationangle)aresettozeroandtheparameterstobeconsideredforLink8elementare
crosssectionalareaandinitialstrain.Thesectionalpropertiesadoptedfordiscretemodelare
showninTable2.
Table2:Realconstantsforsteelreinforcement(Link8element)
RealConstantSet
2
3

ElementType
Link8
(Verticalreinforcement)
Link8

Particulars
CrosssectionalArea(m2)
InitialStrain
CrosssectionalArea(m2)

Quantity
201x106
0
113x106

457
InternationalJournalofCivilandStructuralEngineering
Volume2Issue 2 2011

AnalysisofFlangedShearWallUsingAnsysConcreteModel
GreeshmaS,JayaKP,AnniletSheejaL

(Horizontalreinforcement)
Link8
(Shearreinforcement)

InitialStrain
CrosssectionalArea(m2)
InitialStrain

0
50x106
0

For smeared model, parameters to be considered are material number, volume ratio, and
orientation angles ( and ) in X and Y directions respectively. The rebars mentioned in
Table3,rebar1,2and3refertovertical, horizontalandshearreinforcements.Volumeratio
referstotheratioofsteeltoconcreteintheelement.
Table3: Realconstantsforconcrete(Solid65element)
Real
Constant
Set

Element
Type

Particulars

MaterialNumber
VolumeRatio
Solid65
OrientationAngleTHETA1
OrientationAnglePHI1

Constants
Real
Real
Real
Constantfor constantfor Constant
Rebar1
Rebar2 forRebar3
2
0.009
90
0

2
0.00785
0
90

2
0.00349
0
90

4.2MaterialProperties
The materialpropertiesdefined inthe modelare given inTable4.Forthereinforcing bars,
the yield stress was obtained from the experimental test as fy = 432 MPa and the tangent
modulus as 847 MPa. The concrete cube compressive strength fck determined from the
experimentalresultis44.22MPa,80%ofwhichisusedasthecylinderstrength.
ThemultilinearisotropicmaterialusestheVonMisesfailurecriterionalongwiththeWillam
andWarnke(1974)modeltodefinethefailureoftheconcrete.Ecisthemodulusofelasticity
of the concrete, and is the Poissons ratio. The characteristic strength of the concrete
consideredwas25N/mm2andthePoissonsratiowas0.3.
Ec =5000 fck =2.5x1010 N/m2
The multilinear isotropic stressstrain curve for the concrete under compressive uniaxial
loadingwasobtainedusing(1a)and(1b)(Macgregor1992).
ECe
f =
2
1 + (e e 0)

e0 =

2fck
EC

(1a)
(1b)

where,
f=stressatanystrain,=strainatstressf,0 =strainattheultimatecompressivestrength.

458
InternationalJournalofCivilandStructuralEngineering
Volume2Issue 2 2011

AnalysisofFlangedShearWallUsingAnsysConcreteModel
GreeshmaS,JayaKP,AnniletSheejaL

Table4:Materialproperties(AnthonyJ.Wolanski,B.S,2004)

Materia
Element
lModel
Type
No

MaterialProperties

MultiLinearIsotropic
ReferencePoint
Point1
Point2

Strain
0.00036
0.00060

Stress
9.802e6N/m2
15.396e6N/m2

Point3
Point4
Point5

0.00130
0.00190
0.00243

27.517e6N/m2
32.103e6N/m2
33.096e6N/m2

Concrete

Solid65

Sheartransfercoefficientsforanopencrack

0.2

Sheartransfercoefficientsforaclosedcrack

0.9

Uniaxialtensilecrackingstress
Uniaxialcrushingstress.

Link8

3.78e6N/m2
40e6N/m2

Biaxialcrushingstress

Biaxialcrushingstress

AmbientHydrostaticstressstate.

Biaxialcrushingstressunderambient
0
hydrostaticstressstate.
Uniaxialcrushingstressunderambient
0
hydrostaticstressstate.
Stiffnessmultiplierforcrackedtensile
0
condition.
Steel
LinearIsotropic
Ex
2.1x1011 N/m2
PRXY
0.3
BilinearIsotropic
YieldStress
TangModulus

415x106 N/m2
20x106 N/m2

5FiniteElementAnalysis
459
InternationalJournalofCivilandStructuralEngineering
Volume2Issue 2 2011

AnalysisofFlangedShearWallUsingAnsysConcreteModel
GreeshmaS,JayaKP,AnniletSheejaL

InANSYS,thefiniteelementmodelscanbecreatedeitherusingcommandpromptlineinput
or the Graphical User Interface (GUI). For the present study, the shear wall was modeled
usingGraphicalUserInterface. Forcarryingoutthe seismicanalysis,thecommandprompt
line input data was adopted. For carrying out the analysis, the command prompt line input
data is adopted. The convergence criteria used for the analysis are displacement with the
toleranceof0.001.
The analysis has been carried out for the shear wall subjected to reversible cyclic
loading.Theaxialloadof0.5Tisappliedontopnodesoftheshearwall.Lateralcyclicload
isappliedatthetopnodesinplanewiththeshearwall.Thedisplacementcycleadoptedfor
theanalysisisshowninFigure3.

Figure3:Displacementcycle
6.NumericalResultsandDiscussions
The modeling and analysis of flanged shear wall has been carried out with two different
conditions, such as (i) shear wall with smeared reinforcement (ii) shear wall with discrete
reinforcement subjected to in plane reversible cyclic loading. The observations from the
analyticalstudiesarebrieflydescribed.
6.1UltimateloadandMomentcarryingcapacity
The ultimate load and moment carrying capacity for the twotypes of models are shown in
Table5.Itcanbeobservedthattheultimate loadand momentarecomparatively higher for
the models with smeared reinforcement, howeverthe variation is within agreeable limits of
lessthan10%.
Table5: Ultimateloadcarryingcapacityofmodels
UltimateLoad(kN)
Description

Positive

Negative

Average

460
InternationalJournalofCivilandStructuralEngineering
Volume2Issue 2 2011

AnalysisofFlangedShearWallUsingAnsysConcreteModel
GreeshmaS,JayaKP,AnniletSheejaL

Shearwallwithsmearedreinforcement
Shearwallwithdiscretereinforcement

direction

direction

(Pu)

233.347

235.875

234.611

214.080

214.432

214.256

6.2DisplacementAnalysis
TheloadVsdisplacementhystereticloopsforthemodelsareshowninFigure4andFigure5.
For the smeared model, spindleshaped hysteretic loops were observed with large energy
dissipation capacity when compared to the discrete model. Here the ductility is increased
withoutcompromisingthestiffness.Thedisplacementenvelopecurveforboththemodelsis
shownin Figure6.

Figure4:LoadVsdisplacementcurvefordiscretemodel

Figure5:LoadVsdisplacementcurveforsmearedmodel
461
InternationalJournalofCivilandStructuralEngineering
Volume2Issue 2 2011

AnalysisofFlangedShearWallUsingAnsysConcreteModel
GreeshmaS,JayaKP,AnniletSheejaL

Figure6:Load displacementenvelopecurveformodels
6.3EnergyDissipationCapacity
Theareaenclosedbyahystereticloopatagivencyclerepresentstheenergydissipatedbythe
specimen during that cycle (ElAmoury and Ghobarah 2002). Figure 7 shows the energy
dissipated for each cycle of both the types of specimens. Smeared model exhibited higher
energydissipationthanthatofdiscretemodel.Butthevariationiswithin12.5%.

Figure7:Comparisonofcumulativeenergydissipated
6.4DisplacementDuctility
Ductility is the capacity of the structureor a member to undergo deformation beyond yield
withoutloosingmuchoftheloadcarryingcapacity.Thedisplacementductilityforthemodel
462
InternationalJournalofCivilandStructuralEngineering
Volume2Issue 2 2011

AnalysisofFlangedShearWallUsingAnsysConcreteModel
GreeshmaS,JayaKP,AnniletSheejaL

iscalculatedasperASCEguidelinesandispresentedinTable6.Itcanbeobservedthatthe
displacement ductility is enhanced for smeared model than that of discrete model. But the
variationiswithin2.5%.
Table6: Displacementductilityofmodels
Descriptionofthe YieldDisplacement
specimen
(mm)

Ultimate
Displacement(mm)

Displacementductility

DiscreteModel

4.6

40

8.69

SmearedModel

4.5

40

8.88

7.ValidationofResults
TheequationsforsheargiveninACI318code(2002)wereusedtoidentifytheshearfailure
of the RC shear wall. In ACI 318 code, for members subjected to additional axial
compressionforce,theshearcapacityofconcreteis

fc1
N
u

MPa
Vc =1+
14Ag 6

where, Nu istheaxialcompressionforceand Ag istheareaofthecrosssection.

Theultimatevalueofhorizontalshearstressinducedattheshearwallisalmostequalorlittle
higherthantheACIrecommendedvalues.ItcanbeseenfromTable7thattheshearresisting
capacity is more for the specimens detailed with smeared reinforcement than the discrete
model.
Table7:Comparisonofultimateshearstress

tu
t ACI

Analytical
Designationofspecimen

DiscreteModel
SmearedModel

UltimateLoad
Pu kN

Analytical

Theoretical
(Equation5.1)

214.432

1.04

1.0

235.875

1.08

1.0

7.Conclusions
Inseismiczones,astructurecanbesubjectedtostronggroundmotions,and,foreconomical
design,astructureisconsideredtoundergodeformationsintheinelasticrangetherefore,in
addition to strength requirement, the structure should undergo these inelastic deformations
463
InternationalJournalofCivilandStructuralEngineering
Volume2Issue 2 2011

AnalysisofFlangedShearWallUsingAnsysConcreteModel
GreeshmaS,JayaKP,AnniletSheejaL

without failure. From the literaturereviewed it is clearthat paucity of information exists in

the area of modeling of reinforced concrete structures. In the present study two types of
models are analysed, (i) smeared model and (ii) discrete model. Both the models were
analysed forcyclic loading.Theanalyticalresultsarecomparedwiththeempiricalrelations
inACI318(2002).Fromtheanalyticalresults,followingconclusionsaredrawn.
1. Itisnoticedthatthesmeared modelexhibitedhigherultimatestrengthcomparedto
thatofdiscretemodel.Thereis10%increaseinultimatestrengthforsmearedmodel
thanthatofdiscretemodel.
2. Itisalsoobservedthatsmearedmodelhashigheraverageductilitythantheircounter
parts(discretemodel).Theenhancementindeformationcapacityforsmearedmodel
is2.5%thanthatofdiscretemodel.
3. Spindleshapedhysteretic loopsareobservedwithlargeenergydissipationcapacity
for smeared model compared to discrete model. The enhancement in energy
dissipation for smeared model is observed to be 7.5 % higher than that of discrete
model.
4. Further, the ultimate shear capacities of both the models were observed to be
matchingwiththeempiricalrelationasperACI318.
8. References
1. ACICommittee318(2002),BuildingCodeRequirementsforStructuralConcrete
(ACI31802),AmericanConcreteInstitute,Detroit.
2. ACIASCE Committee 352 (1976), Recommendations for Design of Beam
ColumnJointsinMonolithicRCStructures,ACIJournal,73(7), pp375393.
3. ANSYS.(2006), ANSYSUsersManualRevision10,ANSYS,Inc.
4. ASCE (1982), StateoftheArt Reporton Finite Element Analysis of Reinforced
Concrete,ASCESpecialPublication,NewYork,N.Y.,U.S.A.
5. ASCEStandard(2002),Seismicevaluationofexistingbuildings,ASCE3103.
6. Barbosa,A.F.andRibeiro,G.O(1998),Analysisofreinforcedconcretestructures
using ANSYSnonlinearconcretemodel,Computational Mechanics,NewTrends
andApplications,Barcelona,Spain,pp17.
7. ElAmoury, T. and Ghobarah, A (2002), Seismic rehabilitation of beamcolumn
jointusingGFRPsheets,EngineeringStructures,24(11),pp13971407.
8. Fanning,P(2001),NonlinearModelsofReinforcedandPosttensionedConcrete
Beams,ElectronicJournalofStructuralEngineering,2,pp 111119.
9. IS 1893Part 1(2002),Indian Standard Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design
ofStructures,BureauofIndianStandards,NewDelhi,India.

464
InternationalJournalofCivilandStructuralEngineering
Volume2Issue 2 2011

AnalysisofFlangedShearWallUsingAnsysConcreteModel
GreeshmaS,JayaKP,AnniletSheejaL

10. MacGregor, J.G (1992), Reinforced Concrete Mechanics and Design, Prentice
Hall Inc.
11. QiZhang(2004),Finiteelementapplicationofslabcolumnconnectionwithglass
fibre reinforced polymers, Research report, Memorial University of
Newfoundland,St.Johns,Canada,pp152.
12. STAADPRO(2007), UsersManualRevision.
13. William, K.J. and Warnke, E.P (1975), Constitutive Model for the Triaxial
Behavior of Concrete, Proceedings, International Association for Bridge and
StructuralEngineering,Vol.19,ISMES,Bergamo,Italy,pp174.
14. Wolanski, A.J (2004), Flexural behavior of reinforced and prestressed concrete
beams using finite element analysis, A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the
GraduateSchool,MarquetteUniversity,Milwaukee,Wisconsin,pp167.

465
InternationalJournalofCivilandStructuralEngineering
Volume2Issue 2 2011