Shaking table test and numerical simulation of a precast frame-shear wall structure with innovative untopped precast concrete floors

Abstract

An innovative discretely connected precast concrete floor (DCPCF) was presented, in which the adjacent precast concrete hollow or sandwich flat slabs were connected by mechanical connectors embedded in the precast concrete slabs and beams. This paper summarized the seismic performance observed during the shaking table test of a precast frame-shear wall structure adopting DCPCF. A 1/4-scale model of a 4-storey 2-bay single-span frame-shear wall structure was designed and tested on the shaking table to evaluate the dynamic characteristics and seismic responses of building structures adopting DCPCF. In addition, a finite element model, including detailed modeling of beam-column joint and slab joint connections, was established using nonlinear dynamic modeling program. The predictions on the seismic performance using the finite element model agreed well with the test results for the designed frame-shear wall structure. The precast concrete frame-shear wall structure adopting DCPCF had satisfactory seismic performance during the test process. The in-plane deformation of DCPCF was observed under the horizontal earthquakes, and DCPCF could not satisfy the requirements of rigid diaphragm assumption in most cases under design basis seismic intensity. The seismic design method based on semi-rigid floor diaphragm had large error and safety risk in calculating the seismic shear force of building structure adopting DCPCF. Additionally, design suggestions for multi-storey and high-rise building structures using DCPCF were proposed based on the observed seismic responses.