Evaluation of existing concrete shear walls of building to resist new lateral loads

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to evaluate the behaviour of existing Reinforced concrete shear walls to resist new lateral loads which will may applied from an additional steel space frame which suggested by architectural designer, study of concrete stair case and elevator walls of building as support of large value of lateral reaction of space frame, the concrete walls investigated under concrete compression strength, lateral displacements due to new lateral loads, and chemical tests. Results show that concrete compression strength of these concrete walls is generally weak, about 50 % of required strength, calculated lateral displacement is large, and sulphate contents exceeds normal value with 18 %, sulfur trioxide exceeds normal value with 5 %, chloride is significantly low, total dissolved soluble exceeds normal value with 220 %, hydrogen ions are high and exceeds normal value with 57 %, carbonation is very deep and exceeds concrete cover with 22 mm. So these walls are considered not able to resist new lateral loads safely, the author suggested to design steel space frame supporting itself or new proposal of an architectural view of building, on the other hand repair of these concrete walls should be done.