In this paper, the axial behaviour of boundary elements of rectangular ductile reinforced concrete (RC) walls is investigated. For this purpose, axial tests on rectangular RC prisms representing the boundary zones of ductile RC walls are carried out. Critical design parameters influencing the local compression response of ductile wall boundaries are identified and the effect of these parameters on the axial response of RC prisms is experimentally investigated. Key parameters investigated in this study include loading history, transverse reinforcement detailing (arrangement, spacing and diameter), longitudinal reinforcement detailing (yield strength and area) and cover concrete. The influence of these parameters on the performance of RC wall boundary zones is discussed in light of the experimental observations of the prisms tested in this study. The experimental test results reaffirm the susceptibility of isolated wall boundary elements to the progression of large out-of-plane deformations and subsequent instability. The experiment test results show that loading history and transverse reinforcement detailing are the critical parameters that influence the failure modes of boundary zone prisms.

中文翻译：

---

矩形RC棱镜的轴向响应，代表延性混凝土墙的边界元素

本文研究了矩形延性钢筋混凝土（RC）墙边界元素的轴向行为。为此，在代表延性RC壁边界区域的矩形RC棱镜上进行了轴向测试。确定了影响延性壁边界局部压缩响应的关键设计参数，并通过实验研究了这些参数对RC棱镜轴向响应的影响。在这项研究中研究的关键参数包括荷载历史，横向钢筋细节（布置，间距和直径），纵向钢筋细节（屈服强度和面积）以及覆盖混凝土。根据本研究中测试的棱镜的实验观察结果，讨论了这些参数对RC墙边界区域性能的影响。实验测试结果证实了孤立的壁边界元素对大的平面外变形和随后的不稳定性的敏感性。实验测试结果表明，加载历史和横向钢筋细度是影响边界带棱柱破坏模式的关键参数。