Cyclic loading tests of a resilient hinged self-centering RC wall

Abstract

To reduce the residual drift of the reinforced concrete shear wall (RCSW), this paper proposes a resilient hinged self-centering shear wall (RHSCSW) in which two tension–compression-symmetrical disc spring devices (TCSDSDs) and a restraint plate form a resilient bottom that prevents plastic deformation on the wallboard. Cyclic loading tests are conducted on a TCSDSD specimen, an RCSW specimen, and two RHSCSW specimens to investigate their hysteretic responses. The experimental results indicate that the TCSDSD exhibits a symmetrical flag-shaped hysteretic behavior, and its macro-mechanical properties can be described by eight stiffness variables and four force variables. Benefiting from the self-centering characteristic of the TCSDSD, the maximum residual inter-story drift ratio of the RHSCSW is only 0.37% with a maximum inter-story drift ratio of 4%, while that of the RCSW reaches 0.94% with an inter-story drift ratio of only 2%. Moreover, the total energy dissipation of the RHSCSW is found to be 25.4% higher than that of the RCSW. The equivalent viscous damping ratio of the RHSCSW is almost constant because the axial displacements of the TCSDSDs are almost linear with the lateral drift of the RHSCSW.