Multi-Layer Shell Element for Shear Walls in OpenSees

Reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls is one of the most widely used lateral force-resisting members of high-rise buildings. This research developed a multi-layer shell element on an open-source FE code of OpenSees for shear walls. The multi-layer shell element can simulate the coupled in-plane/out-of-plane bending as well as the in-plane shear and coupled bending-shear behavior of RC shear walls, and it comprehensively reflects the spatial mechanical behavior of the shell structures. The simulation of rectangular walls, flanged walls and coupled walls under pseudo-static loading was conducted. The simulated results agree well with the experimental results, which validates the rationality and reliability of the proposed model. The nonlinear seismic analyses of a super-tall building - namely, Shanghai Tower with a height of 632 m - were conducted based on the fiber beam and multi-layer shell elements. Good agreement was achieved between the analytical results of OpenSees and MSC.Marc. The outcome of this study provides an effective tool and a useful reference for the simulation of high-rise buildings using OpenSees.