Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel

Outline

1 Description 3
2 Finite Element Model 5
2.1 Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.2 Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.3 Boundary Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.4 Loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.4.1 Vertical Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.4.2 Prescribed Deformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2.5 Mesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3 Structural Linear Static Analysis 22
3.1 Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
3.2 Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.2.1 Total Displacements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.2.2 Vertical Stresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4 Structural Nonlinear Analysis 25
4.1 Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4.2 Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.2.1 In-Plane Principal Stresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
4.2.2 Reinforcement Plastic Strains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.2.3 Crack Widths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.2.4 Load-Displacement Curve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Appendix A Additional Information 33

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 2/34

1 Description
This example presents the modeling of the shear wall panel in Figure 1. The shear wall has a central panel, two columns on the side and a loading plate on the top where a vertical pressure q
and an horizontal load u are applied. The structure is modeled using plane stress elements and adopting the total strain based rotating crack model as constitutive behavior for the concrete
central panel and side columns. A linear elastic material model is used for the modeling of the top loading plate.

First we check the model using a linear elastic analysis. Then, we perform a nonlinear analysis with a monotonic increase of the horizontal load u. In addition to the visualization of the
contour plot of displacement, stress and strain fields, we display in DianaIE the load-displacement curve associated to this problem.
q

ρy

ρx

ρy

Figure 1: Shear wall panel with grid reinforcement

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 3/34

The geometry and the layout of the reinforcements are shown in Figure 2. The steel bars are modeled using grid reinforcement layers. The concrete and steel material properties are in listed
in Table 1.

q = 366.95 N/mm
A 700

u = 1 - 30 mm

240
ρx = 1.03 mm/m2
ρy = 1.16 mm/m2

ρy = 4.64 mm/m2
Concrete - linear

1200
Young’s modulus 30e+03 N/mm2
Poisson’s ratio 0.15
Concrete - nonlinear
Young’s modulus 30e+03 N/mm2
Poisson’s ratio 0.15
Tensile strength 2.2 N/mm2
y Ultimate strain 0.0028
Compressive strength 27.5 N/mm2
x Reinforcement steel
Young’s modulus 200e+033 N/mm2
100 Yielding stress 574 N/mm2
B
260 100 980 100 260 Ultimate strength 8574 N/mm2
400 Ultimate strain εsu 1

Figure 2: Geometry and reinforcement layout of the shear wall panel (dimensions in mm) Table 1: Concrete and steel properties

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 4/34

2 Finite Element Model
For the modeling session we start a new project for structural analysis [Fig. 3]. The dimensions of the domain for the 2D model are set to 10 m. We use quadratic quadrilateral finite elements.

DianaIE

Main menu File New [Fig. 3]

Figure 3: New project dialog

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 5/34

We choose millimeter for the unit length, ton for mass and newton for force.
DianaIE

Geometry browser Reference system Units [Fig. 4]

Property Panel [Fig. 5]

Figure 4: Geometry browser Figure 5: Property panel - units

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 6/34

2.1 Geometry
We create a sheet for the panel, a second one for the left column and a third one for the loading plate.
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Create Polygon sheet [Fig. 6] – [Fig. 8]

< Repeat 3× >
Main menu Viewer Viewpoints Top view [Fig. 9]

Figure 6: Add panel sheet Figure 7: Add left column sheet Figure 8: Add loading plate sheet Figure 9: View of the model

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 7/34

We create the right column by copying and translating the left column shape.

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Modify Array copy [Fig. 10] [Fig. 11]
Geometry browser Geometry Shapes left column 1 Rename right column [Fig. 12] [Fig. 13]

Figure 10: Create right

column shape Figure 11: View of the model Figure 12: Geometry browser Figure 13: Geometry browser

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 8/34

The reinforcements are modelled as 2D layers with the same geometry of the embedding shapes. Therefore, we can generate the reinforcement layers by duplicating the panel, left column and
right column sheets.
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Shapes panel Duplicate [Fig. 14]

< Repeat for left column and right column >
Geometry browser Geometry Shapes panel 1 Rename grid reinforcement panel [Fig. 15] [Fig. 16]
< Repeat for left column 1 and right column 1 [Fig. 15] [Fig. 16] >

Figure 14: Duplicate shapes Figure 15: Geometry browser Figure 16: Geometry browser

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 9/34

2.2 Properties
We assign the element class and the material and geometrical properties to the panel. We use regular plane stress finite elements with a thickness of 100 mm as shown in Figure 2. The
material is nonlinear as described in Section 1.
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Shape properties [Fig. 17]

Shape properties Material Add material [Fig. 18] Edit material [Fig. 19] – [Fig. 21]
Shape properties Geometry Add new geometry [Fig. 22]

Figure 17: Property assignments to panel Figure 18: Add new material nonlinear concrete Figure 19: Edit material nonlinear concrete

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 10/34

 Figure 20: Edit material nonlinear concrete Figure 21: Edit material nonlinear concrete Figure 22: Edit panel geometry

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 11/34

We assign the properties to the left column and the right column. As shown in Figure 2, the thickness is 400 mm. Here, we do not need to add a new material, since we assign to the left
column and the right column the same material used for the panel.
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Shape properties [Fig. 23]

Shape properties Geometry Add new geometry [Fig. 24]

Figure 23: Property assignments to left column

and right column Figure 24: Edit left column and right column geometry

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 12/34

We assign the properties to the loading plate. We create a new material for the linear concrete as described in Section 1. As shown in Figure 2, the thickness is 700 mm.

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Shape properties [Fig. 25]

Shape properties Material Add material [Fig. 26] Edit material [Fig. 27]
Shape properties Geometry Add new geometry [Fig. 28]

Figure 25: Property assignments to loading plate Figure 26: Add new material linear concrete Figure 27: Edit material linear concrete Figure 28: Edit loading plate geometry

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 13/34

We assign the properties to the steel reinforcements. We start with the grid reinforcement panel. We need to specify the strain-stress diagram at yielding based on the material properties as
described in Table 1.
DianaIE

<Select the correspondent reinforcement in the Geometry browser >

Main menu Geometry Assign Reinforcement properties [Fig. 29]
Reinforcement properties Material Add material [Fig. 30] Edit material [Fig. 31] [Fig. 32]
Reinforcement properties Geometry Edit geometry [Fig. 33]

Figure 29: Property assignments to

grid reinforcement panel Figure 30: Add new material steel Figure 31: Edit material steel

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 14/34

 Figure 32: Edit material steel (strain-stress diagram at yielding) Figure 33: Edit grid reinforcement panel geometry

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 15/34

We assign the properties to the grid reinforcement left column and the grid reinforcement right column. Comparing to the grid reinforcement panel, only the geometry changes while the
material properties are the same.
DianaIE

<Select the correspondent reinforcement in the Geometry browser >

Main menu Geometry Assign Reinforcement properties [Fig. 34] [Fig. 35]
Reinforcement properties Geometry Edit geometry [Fig. 36]

Figure 36: Edit grid reinforcement left

column and grid
Figure 34: Property assignments to grid Figure 35: Property assignments to grid reinforcement right column
reinforcement left column reinforcement right column geometry

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 16/34

2.3 Boundary Conditions
We support the bottom edge of the model in the X and Y directions.
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Supports [Fig. 37] [Fig. 38]

Figure 37: Apply symmetry boundary conditions Figure 38: Bottom constraints

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 17/34

2.4 Loads
2.4.1 Vertical Load
We apply a vertical distributed load of -366.95 N/mm to the top edge of the loading plate.
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Loads [Fig. 39] [Fig. 40]

Figure 39: Apply vertical distributed force Figure 40: Vertical distributed load

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 18/34

2.4.2 Prescribed Deformation

To apply a prescribed deformation in the center node of the loading plate, we need to create a node at this location. We first create a vertex at the center of the loading plate, that we later
imprint on the loading plate.

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Create Point [Fig. 41]

Main menu Geometry Modify Imprint [Fig. 42] [Fig. 43]

Figure 41: Create point body Figure 42: Imprint point body on loading plate Figure 43: Imprinted point on loading plate

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 19/34

To apply a prescribed displacement in a node in DianaIE, we first constrain the displacement of the node and then apply a prescribed deformation.

DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Assign Supports [Fig. 44]

Main menu Geometry Assign Loads [Fig. 45] [Fig. 46]

Figure 44: Constrain center node of loading plate Figure 45: Apply prescribed deformation Figure 46: View prescribed deformation

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 20/34

2.5 Mesh
We set the mesh properties such that the elements size is 50 mm. We generate the mesh.
DianaIE

Main menu Geometry Mesh Mesh properties [Fig. 47]

Main menu Geometry Mesh Generate mesh [Fig. 48]

Figure 47: Mesh properties Figure 48: Finite element mesh

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 21/34

3 Structural Linear Static Analysis
3.1 Commands
We first perform a linear elastic analysis for a quick assessment of the model.
DianaIE

Main menu Analysis Add analysis

Analysis browser Analysis1 Rename Linear [Fig. 49]
Analysis browser Linear Add command Structural linear static [Fig. 50] [Fig. 51]
Main menu Analysis Run selected analysis

Figure 49: Analysis browser Figure 50: Add command Figure 51: Analysis browser

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 22/34

3.2 Results
3.2.1 Total Displacements
First we create a contour plot for the total displacements DtXY for the two load cases (top pressure and displacement).
DianaIE

Results browser Linear Output linear static analysis Nodal results Displacements DtXY [Fig. 52]
Results browser Case top pressure [Fig. 53]
Results browser Case displacement [Fig. 54]

Figure 52: Results browser Figure 53: Displacement DtXY – top pressure load case Figure 54: Displacement DtXY – displacement load case

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 23/34

3.2.2 Vertical Stresses

We display the contour plot of the vertical stresses SYY. The positive stresses induced by the displacement are higher than the tensile strength of the concrete. Therefore, in the nonlinear
analysis we will observe cracks forming in the panel and in the left and right column.
DianaIE

Results browser Linear Output linear static analysis Element results Cauchy Total Stresses SYY [Fig. 55]
Results browser Case top pressure [Fig. 56]
Results browser Case displacement [Fig. 57]

Figure 55: Results browser Figure 56: Stresses SYY – top pressure load case Figure 57: Stresses SYY – displacement load case

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 24/34

4 Structural Nonlinear Analysis
4.1 Commands
We perform a nonlinear structural analysis in which the horizontal displacement is incrementally increased.
DianaIE

Main menu Analysis Add analysis

Analysis browser Analysis2 Rename Nonlinear [Fig. 58]
Analysis browser Nonlinear Add command Structural nonlinear [Fig. 59] [Fig. 60]

Figure 58: Analysis window Figure 59: Add command Figure 60: Analysis tree

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 25/34

The default execute block is used to apply the vertical load on the structure. We rename this execute block as top pressure. Then we add a new execute block to the nonlinear analysis to take
into account the horizontal displacement. We rename this second execute block as displacement.
DianaIE

Analysis browser Nonlinear Structural nonlinear new execute block Rename top pressure [Fig. 61]
Analysis browser Nonlinear Structural nonlinear Add... Execute steps - Load steps [Fig. 62]
Analysis browser Nonlinear Structural nonlinear new execute block Rename displacement [Fig. 63]

Figure 61: Rename execute block Figure 62: Add new execute block Figure 63: Rename execute block

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 26/34

The horizontal displacement is applied 30 times. During these steps we set the maximum number of iterations to 50 and the convergence norm to energy with a tolerance equal to 0.001.
DianaIE

Analysis browser Nonlinear Structural nonlinear displacement Load steps Edit properties [Fig. 64]
Analysis browser Nonlinear Structural nonlinear displacement Equilibrium iteration Edit properties [Fig. 65] [Fig. 66]

Figure 64: Load steps Figure 65: Equilibrium iteration Figure 66: Convergence norm

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 27/34

We select the desired output results listed in Table 2 and we run the analysis.
DianaIE

Analysis browser Nonlinear Structural nonlinear Output Edit properties[Fig. 67]

Properties - Output Result User selection Modify [Fig. 68] [Table 2] [Fig. 69]
Main menu Analysis Run selected analysis

Figure 68: Results selection

Global displacements DISPLA TOTAL TRANSL GLOBAL

Global total stresses STRESS TOTAL CHAUCHY GLOBAL
Global plastic strain STRAIN PLASTI GREEN GLOBAL
Crack width STRAIN CRKWDT GREEN PRINCI
Reaction forces FORCE REACTI TRANSL GLOBAL

Figure 67: Output properties Table 2: Required output data Figure 69: Output properties

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 28/34

4.2 Results
4.2.1 In-Plane Principal Stresses
We create a contour plot for the in-plane principal stresses at load step 2 and 31. Already at step 2, some of the concrete in the panel already cracks since the tensile exceeds the tensile
strength (see Table 1). At step 31, also the compressive stresses reached the tensile strength of the concrete.
DianaIE

Results browser Nonlinear Output Element results Cauchy Total Stresses SXX Show in-plane principal components [Fig. 70]
Results browser Case Load-step 2, Load-factor 1.0000, displacement [Fig. 71]
Results browser Case Load-step 31, Load-factor 30.000, displacement [Fig. 72]

Figure 70: Results browser Figure 71: In-plane stresses SXX - load-step 2 Figure 72: In-plane stresses SXX - load-step 31

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 29/34

4.2.2 Reinforcement Plastic Strains

We display the contour plot for the reinforcement plastic strains EpYY at load step 2 and 31. We define the limits of the contour plot to -0.06 and 0.04 as minimum and maximum values,
respectively.
At step 2 the plastic strains are nearly zero in the entire wall, thus the steel reinforcements are not yielded. However, as shown for step 31, due to the increasing of the horizontal displacement
the reinforcements yield.
DianaIE

Results browser Nonlinear Output Reinforcements results Reinforcement Plastic Strain EpYY [Fig. 73]
Property Panel Contour plot settings Color scale limits Specified values [Fig. 74]
Property Panel Contour plot settings Specified values Minimum value -0.06 [Fig. 74]
Property Panel Contour plot settings Specified values Maximum value 0.04 [Fig. 74]
Results browser Case Load-step 2, Load-factor 1.0000, displacement [Fig. 75]
Results browser Case Load-step 31, Load-factor 30.000, displacement [Fig. 76]

Figure 73: Results browser Figure 74: Results properties Figure 75: Reinforcement plastic strains EpYY - load-step 2 Figure 76: Reinforcement plastic strain EpYY - load-step 31

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 30/34

4.2.3 Crack Widths

We display the contour plot for the crack widths Ecw1 at load step 2 and 31. We set a maximum of crack width to 2.6 mm. As shown in Figure 79, the formation of cracks in the concrete
starts from the bottom left corner due to the tension induced by the horizontal load. By increasing the load value, the crack widths increases, especially in the left column where the tension
is higher (see Figure 80).

DianaIE

Results browser Nonlinear Output Element results Crack-widths Ecw1 [Fig. 77]
Property Panel Contour plot settings Specified values Minimum value 0 [Fig. 78]
Property Panel Contour plot settings Specified values Maximum value 2.6 [Fig. 78]
Results browser Case Load-step 2, Load-factor 1.0000, displacement [Fig. 79]
Results browser Case Load-step 31, Load-factor 30.000, displacement [Fig. 80]

Figure 77: Results browser Figure 78: Results properties Figure 79: Crack width Ecw1 - load-step 2 Figure 80: Crack width Ecw1 - load-step 31

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 31/34

4.2.4 Load-Displacement Curve

Finally, we make a load-displacement curve. For this model, the load is actually a prescribed displacement at the center of the loading plate. Therefore, a load-displacement diagram should
plot the reaction force versus the displacement of this center node.
Figure 83 shows that the elastic threshold is reached as soon as the horizontal displacement is applied. Then, the stiffness of the wall decreases due to the formation of cracks in the concrete,
until a constant slope is reached since the load is undertaken by the hardening steel reinforcements.
DianaIE

Results browser Nonlinear Output Nodal results Reaction Forces FBX Show table [Fig. 81]
Chart view Node and element selection nodes [Fig. 82] [Fig. 83]

Figure 81: Results browser Figure 82: Node selection Figure 83: Load-displacement curve

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 32/34

Appendix A Additional Information

Folder: Tutorials/ShearWall

Number of elements ≈ 700

Keywords:
analys: nonlin physic.
constr: suppor.
elemen: cq16m grid pstres reinfo taper.
load: deform edge elemen force.
materi: consta crack elasti harden isotro linear multil plasti rotati soften strain totstr vonmis.
option: direct newton regula units.
post: binary ndiana.
pre: dianai.
result: cauchy crkwdt displa force green plasti princi reacti strain stress total.

Structural Nonlinear Analysis of a Shear Wall Panel | https://dianafea.com 33/34

 DIANA FEA BV DIANA FEA BV
Thijsseweg 11 Vlamoven 34
2629JA Delft 6826 TN Arnhem
The Netherlands The Netherlands
T +31 (0) 88 34262 00 T +31 (0) 88 34262 00

WWW.DIANAFEA.COM
© DIANA FEA BV
Disclaimer: The aim of this technical tutorial is to illustrate various tools, modelling techniques and analysis workflows in DIANA.
DIANA FEA BV does not accept any responsibility regarding the presented cases, used parameters, and presented results.