Assessment of the Seismic Performance for a Low-Code RC Shear Walls Structure in Bucharest (Romania)

Background:

Low-code RC shear walls structures house a significant proportion (over 20%) of the inhabitants of Bucharest.

Objective:

In this research, the seismic performance of a low-code reinforced concrete shear walls structure located in various sites in Bucharest (Romania) is assessed.

Methods:

The seismic performance is assessed using both static and dynamic nonlinear time-history analyses, as well as detailed sectional analysis of the RC shear walls.

Results:

The results show that the structure has significant capacity differences in the two principal directions. Moreover, it has been observed that the maximum top displacements obtained from nonlinear time history analyses are larger in the transversal direction.

Conclusion:

Considering the behaviour of such structures during the 1977 Vrancea earthquake, the fact that these structures are already 40 – 50 years old and given the results of some of the analyses shown in this study, it can be concluded that immediate seismic rehabilitation measures are needed in order to correct, at least partially the structural issues of this section type.

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