Performance and numerical modelling of full-scale demountable bolted PC wall panels subjected to cyclic loading

Abstract

This paper proposes a lightly reinforced precast concrete (PC) wall panel building system with bolted connections, in which the bolted joints are designed to resist both tensile and shear forces. The proposed system offers a solution for sustainable low-rise prefabricated buildings which can shorten the construction period and realizing easy assembly and disassembly for sustainability concerns. Four wall specimens with different axial load ratios, concrete compressive strength, and aspect ratio, were experimentally and numerically investigated. The test results demonstrated that the panels provided a reliable bearing capacity. A finite element analysis (FEA) model was also developed by considering the interaction of the main components to study the effects of main variables on the seismic performance of the bolted PC panels, and to quantify the sensitivity of structural response and failure modes. Based on these results, a simplified design method was proposed for the calculation of the initial stiffness and bearing capacity of the bolted PC wall panels, which was proved with good assessment accuracy. The study suggested that the structural stiffness, ultimate capacity, and damage patterns of the PC wall panels can be reasonably controlled through a well design of the bolted joints.