Investigation on Seismic Behavior of a Novel Precast Shear Wall System with Different Infill Wall Constructions

Abstract

Construction industrialization addresses various challenges in the traditional construction industry, enabling building structures to conserve resources and enhance energy efficiency while reducing emissions. Precast shear walls involve the factory-based production of components, followed by transportation to a construction site for assembly. The method of connecting these components is crucial for precast concrete shear wall systems. Common connection methods include lap-spliced connections, post-tensioned connections, welded connections, bolted connections, and sleeve connections. However, challenges such as construction precision and technology proficiency have limited their application. In response, a novel precast concrete shear wall system utilizing angle steel connectors has been proposed. These angle steel connectors enhance the shear resistance of horizontal joints between precast concrete shear walls and the foundation, providing provisional support for specimen positioning and installation. Presently, the seismic performance of this innovative precast shear wall system under the combined actions of cyclic horizontal loads and axial pressure or tension has been extensively investigated. In practical engineering applications, precast concrete shear wall systems are often accompanied by infill walls. However, there is limited research on the seismic performance of precast concrete shear wall systems with infill walls. To address this gap, this study designed and fabricated two novel precast concrete shear walls with different infill wall constructions. One specimen featured an infill wall composed of a single wall panel, while the other had an infill wall consisting of two panels. Pseudo-static tests were conducted on both specimens under constant axial compression. Subsequently, the seismic performance and force mechanism of the two specimens were compared with the novel precast concrete shear walls without infill walls. The test results demonstrated that the specimen with two infill wall panels exhibited superior overall performance compared to the one with a single continuous infill wall panel. Furthermore, it was observed that, during the loading process, the edge columns of specimens with infill walls provided the majority of the increased load-bearing capacity, while the infill walls made a limited contribution to the overall load-bearing capacity of the structures.