Final answer:
Steel with concrete shear walls exhibit increased ductility and tensile strength compared to plain concrete, significantly enhancing shear resistance. Steel reinforcement is key to preventing structural failures in the face of lateral forces and is chosen for its thermal compatibility with concrete.
Step-by-step explanation:
The performance characteristics of steel with concrete shear walls are important in structural engineering, particularly in the context of buildings and infrastructure. Concrete exhibits high compressive strength, making it suitable for use in columns and arches, while steel reinforcement within the concrete improves the material's poor shear resistance. The ultimate shear strength of concrete is only about 2 × 106 N/m², which is significantly less than its compressive strength of 20 × 106 N/m². Steel-reinforced concrete provides vital ductility and tensile strength, allowing structures to withstand the lateral forces and shearing common during events like earthquakes. Integrating steel within the concrete effectively increases the shear modulus of the composite material and helps prevent failure due to excessive forces.
Another aspect to consider in the use of steel reinforcement is thermal compatibility with concrete. Steel is chosen for its similar coefficient of linear expansion to concrete, which allows both materials to expand and contract at similar rates, minimizing internal stresses due to temperature changes.