Parametric study of concrete load bearing wall with opening based on stress criterion

Abstract

In load bearing wall, reinforcement is only provided to control cracking, not for strength. In this paper A 3D linear finite element stress analysis of concrete load bearing wall reinforced with a single layer of wire mesh for use in double storey houses is performed. Opening in the wall for doors and windows inclusion is included in the model. Haunches are also considered at the opening corners to strengthen the wall section above the opening. Critical stress in the wall based on an appropriate stress criterion is compared with allowable tensile and compressive stress of the concrete in accordance with Eurocode 2. Parametric studies are carried out on dimensions of rectangular opening and also on sizes of haunches in the load bearing wall with openings. This research states that the reduction in the height and length of the rectangular opening together has more effect in decreasing the critical maximum principal stress of the load bearing concrete walls. Also, adding haunches to the corners of rectangular opening causes to decrease the maximum principal stresses significantly, especially for bigger dimension of haunches