Analytical investigation of seismic response of reinforced concrete coupled shear walls with structural fuses

Structural fuses are sacrificial elements where seismic damage is localized while protecting main structural elements. This research focuses on enhancing the seismic performance of Reinforced Concrete (RC) coupled shear wall systems by incorporating steel fuse coupling beams. The study involves a detailed investigation into the behavior of these systems under lateral loads, employing various shapes for the structural fuses. Non-linear finite element analysis, utilizing ABAQUS and Seismostruct software packages, is employed to model the behavior of steel fuses and the overall RC system. The first phase of the study aims to identify optimal dimensions for steel fuses, emphasizing shear behavior. The second phase evaluates the impact of implementing steel beams based on first phase recommendations, compared to conventional RC beams with similar shear capacity. Investigated parameters include web modification of built-up steel sections to enhance shear ductility, determining the most effective locations for steel coupling beams along the height of shear walls, and studying the influence of vertical static loads on shear walls behavior. The results show that RC coupled walls with steel coupling beams outperform conventional systems in terms of ductility, energy dissipation, and damage mitigation while maintaining comparable shear capacity. The research concludes with specific design guidelines and recommendations for steel fuses design and vertical distribution along the aforementioned system for optimal seismic performance.