Seismic performance assessment of ECC and conventional concrete shear walls: A numerical and comparative study

This study presents a comprehensive numerical and comparative assessment of the seismic performance of Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) and Ordinary Concrete Shear Walls (OCSWs) using finite element modeling in ABAQUS. The research focuses on evaluating key structural responses, including hysteresis behavior, backbone curves, damage patterns, and force-displacement characteristics, validated against experimental data. Results demonstrate that ECC shear walls exhibit superior ductility, energy dissipation, and crack control compared to conventional concrete walls, with only a 2.49% discrepancy in ultimate load capacity between numerical and experimental outcomes. A parametric study further investigates the influence of pre-compression force, reinforcement ratio, and wall thickness, revealing optimal performance at a pre-compression force of 460 kN, a reinforcement ratio of 1.73%, and increased wall thickness. The findings highlight ECC’s potential to enhance seismic resilience, offering practical insights for earthquake-resistant design. The validated numerical model serves as a reliable and effective tool for future research and practical applications in structural engineering.