Coupling beams serve as primary source of energy dissipation in coupled shear wall systems during large earthquakes. However, the overestimation of the shear strength of diagonally reinforced coupling beams may be adverse effect on the seismic performance of coupled shear wall systems. In order to force coupling beams to properly work during earthquakes, coupling beams should be designed with accurate shear strength equations. The objective of this study is to propose the accurate shear strength equation for slender diagonally reinforced coupling beams. For this purpose, experimental tests were conducted using three diagonally reinforced coupling specimens with different amount of transverse reinforcement under reversed cyclic loads to evaluate the hysteretic behavior of the specimens. The test results show that transverse reinforcement of slender diagonally reinforced coupling beam affects the maximum strength and drift ratio.

This paper describes the analysis results of coupling beams using steel fiber reinforced concrete for comparison with measure behaviors. Analysis is performed by the finite element analysis program, Vector 2. The results show possibility that relieve complex detail of diagonally reinforced coupling beam.