Investigation on shear strain of reinforced concrete membrane panels subjected to pure shear

Hsu recently conducted a shear test on nine reinforced concrete panel elements subjected to applying pure shear using a shear testing device. Modern truss models (i.e. modified compression field theory and a rotating angle softened truss model) are used to perform a complex nonlinear analysis through a trial and error method based on a double loop. This analysis is conducted by employing equilibrium conditions, compatibility conditions, and a ductile stress–strain relationship of a reinforced concrete membrane panel in a biaxial state. In this study, an effective algorithm that uses a revised Mohr compatibility method based on the failure criteria of struts and ties is proposed. This algorithm is used to improve the convergence rate in the analysis of shear history, which was performed in the experiment of Hsu. The result of the analysis indicates that the shear strain energy in a state of extended shear strain is influenced by the relationship between principal compressive stress and strain (crushing failure).