Resilient seismic performance of self-centering hybrid rocking reinforced concrete wall: Numerical simulation

Abstract

A reinforced concrete rocking wall is engineered to endure seismic forces, leveraging its motion to absorb earthquake energy and mitigate collapse risks. In earthquake-prone regions, self-centering walls offer a durable solution, capable of returning to their original positions post-event. This study proposes an innovative Self-centering Hybrid Rocking Wall (SHRW) integrated with a replaceable Flexural Plate Energy Dissipator (FPED) to minimize concrete wall damage during earthquakes and streamline subsequent repairs. Utilizing the ABAQUS platform, a validated finite element model, based on experimental data, was developed to analyze the robustness of the proposed FPED-SHRW, focusing on the FPED’s energy-dissipating capacity. Additionally, a series of FPED-SHRW samples underwent cyclic loading assessment to investigate resilient performance, considering factors such as initial prestressing force, post-tensioned strand location, and flexural energy dissipator device thickness. The results demonstrate that the suggested self-centering hybrid rocking wall with a flexural plate energy dissipator exhibits exceptional resilient properties, including high energy dissipation capacity, effective self-centering ability, and superior strength and stiffness. This design achieves the objective of minimizing damage during earthquakes and expediting rehabilitation afterward. Furthermore, simulation outcomes confirm the sensibility of the numerical model based on ABAQUS.