Keywords: concrete, numerical modelling, panel joints, panel buildings, plasticity.

This paper shows approaches to numerical modelling of shear wall joint experiments. The work discussed is a part of numerical effort to create computational models of the Czech large panel building type called T06B. These buildings have been numerically analysed a number of times but current results show that there are still some aspects which have to be modelled more precisely.

Large concrete panel buildings are very common in the Czech republic and in Slovakia. They were built from late 1960s until the 1990s and they have been the most common living houses in these countries. The design of those panel buildings was always focused on speed and ease of construction and on low building costs. Building service life and operational costs were much less important.

Large numbers of these panel buildings were built in areas which later became influenced by natural or technical seismicity. Not all buildings were designed with respect for seismic loads. Obviously, any reconstruction or upgrade of such buildings needs numerical and in-situ investigations to determine their actual behaviour. This paper discusses only the effects of static loads.

The paper presents the numerical remodelling of a shear wall joint experiment. The results obtained have been used for comparison with laboratory experimental results and then for the development of a simplified joint modelling approach for wall and shell models of large panel buildings (with a focus on T06B type panel buildings).

Numerical models have been prepared using the ANSYS softwareand SOLID65 eight-node isoparametric finite elements have been used.

The selected finite element type allows the use of the Willam-Warnke model for concrete. It also allows the use of smeared reinforcement inside the element. The reinforcement (which is specified by a reinforcement ratio and by material properties) is defined as an addition to the element stiffness matrix.

The models based on the Chen-Chen condition have been used for comparison of the results. In this case two-dimensional four-node isoparametric finite elements have been used because of the available implementation of the Chen-based model in the uFEM software.

Several finite element models have been studied. Initially, a basic example has been prepared for testing of the material behaviour. Then models of panel joint experiments have been studied.

The results obtained have been used for the development of numerical models of large panel buildings (especially models of Czech T06B panel houses).

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