Experimental shear-dominated response of RC walls. Part II: Discussion of results and design implications

A detailed discussion of the results of the tests presented in Part I (Engng Struct 2000;23(3)229–49), with special emphasis on two main issues is presented: the effect of the tests new boundary conditions, showing that some conclusions from previous tests can not be extrapolated to walls prone to beam behaviour, as is the case in multi-storey buildings; the shear resistance at the plastic hinges, leading to the identification of the corresponding mechanisms of resistance and the evaluation of the respective capacities at the ultimate limit state.