Effects of Using High-Strength Reinforcement in the Seismic Performance of a Tall RC Shear Wall Building

Chile’s reinforced concrete (RC) design is based on ACI 318-08, where high-strength reinforcement is not allowed in seismic force-resistant members. In 2019, new requirements adopted by ACI 318 permitted the incorporation of high-strength reinforcement in walls. This study compared the seismic performance of two Chilean 20-story residential buildings on soft soil, one designed with traditional Grade 60 and the other with high-strength Grade 80 reinforcement. The performance was assessed in terms of the probability of exceeding the ASCE 41 limit states during a 50-year lifecycle. Analyses showed that both buildings had similar seismic performance. However, the reduction in reinforcement in the Grade 80 building was close to 18%. It is concluded that using high-strength reinforcement in a typical wall building implies a significant reduction in the reinforcement used without affecting the seismic performance.

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