Recent research findings indicate that the design of high-capacity shear walls with stable ductile behavior is possible if rational failure modes that can effectively make use of the high strength and crack control properties provided by high-performance concrete are taken into account. The evaluation of dependable limits on the web crushing behavior of high-strength con-crete wall elements within the performance-based framework will allow designers to achieve higher strength for less weight, reduced material use, and lower life-cycle costs due to improved durability to adverse environmental effects.This NEESR-II-05 project has as a goal to establish acceptable limits on the elastic and inelastic shear strength of structural walls and structural wall assemblies. These limits, which are expected to be much higher than current code prescriptions, may permit the design a new generation of low-weight and low-reinforced concrete members and the integration of performance-based criteria into standard design vocabulary for structural walls.
