A Numerical Study on the Seismic Vulnerability of RC Shear Walls With Different Opening Configurations

This study investigates the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls with various aspect ratios, focusing on the effects of openings for windows and doors on critical structural parameters. Solid slender walls show the lowest maximum load‐bearing capacity (83.5 kN), with substantial reductions of 50.2% and 70.8% due to openings, making them vulnerable to load‐bearing failures. Intermediate walls, with a solid capacity of 229.7 kN, experience smaller capacity reductions (22.8% for windows and 38.2% for doors), indicating adequate performance with reinforcement. Squat walls demonstrate the highest resilience (518.8 kN), with minimal capacity reductions of 17.3% and 24.8% for openings. Ductility is significantly impacted in slender walls, decreasing by over 51%, while intermediate and squat walls maintain better ductility with smaller reductions. Energy dissipation is also compromised in slender walls (4055 kN‐mm), with reductions of up to 77.7%, while intermediate and squat walls perform better, retaining higher dissipation capacities. Secant stiffness declines markedly in slender walls, whereas intermediate and squat walls maintain good stiffness levels. These findings underscore the importance of considering opening configurations in RC shear walls, as they significantly impact the structural performance parameters critical for seismic resilience.