LAUSR

The use of shape memory alloys as a rebar in concrete structures has been receiving increasing attention among researchers. In this study, it is intended to evaluate the application of superelastic Nitinol in reducing the damage to the coupling beams and opening corners within a concrete shear wall. Abaqus finite element software was utilized to develop three verified coupled shear wall models. First, a model without diagonal and shape memory alloy rebars is developed to assess conventional shear walls with openings. Steel diagonal rebars are embedded in the coupling beams of the second model, and shape memory alloy diagonal rebars are embedded in the coupling beams of the third model. Shape memory alloy is also implemented in the opening corners of the third model. All models are subjected to cyclic loading to evaluate the concrete damage. Results indicated that the diagonal rebars reduced damage to the coupling beam and opening corners. The damages were the least when shape memory alloy diagonal rebars are utilized in the model. The superelastic behavior of the shape memory alloy also reduced permanent displacement of the shear wall subjected to substantial lateral loadings.