Seismic Performance of Self-Centering Structural Shear Walls: A Numerical Study

After an earthquake, the structure’s self-centering capabilities allow it to return to its original location. gravitational impact and pre-stressed unbonded strands that connect the reinforced concrete wall to the foundation provide the restoring force in shear wall structures. Due to lateral displacements, a separation gap forms at the reinforced concrete wall-foundation connection, which reduces the wall rigidity and then nonlinear reaction. Unbonded Post-Tensioned Precast Concrete Walls are an innovative and important part of the resilient structural system. A three-dimensional finite element model was constructed, designed, validated, analyzed, and executed. This paper aims to numerically validate the models’ accuracy and efficiency in damage mode, force–displacement hysteretic, and skeleton curves. In addition, the Local response, such as the stress of PT bars and Uplift curves at wall toe, were examined and compared with the test results. Based on the FE models, evaluating the influence of the parameters, the initial stress in PT tendons \(( {f}_{pti})\) , the axial load, concrete strength, the effects of yielding bars as energy dissipation elements, and an aspect ratio of walls were also investigated. The findings indicate that the simulation techniques could capture all the above parameters of the self-centering pre-stressed reinforced concrete walls.