Behavior of Welded Plate Connections in Precast Concrete Panels Under Simulated Seismic Loads

Tests were performed on precast wall panels with typical loose-plate connectors located in the vertical joint between panels. The tests were performed to investigate the performance of the connectors under simulated seismic loads. Inplane lateral cyclic loads were applied to the wall panels, which applied tension-shear and compression-shear forces to the loose-plate connectors. The paper describes the experimental program and results for the welded plate connections in ten precast concrete wall panel assemblies. Design assumptions and simplified design models are also examined. The research shows that the connection possesses little ductile capacity and, therefore, is not suitable for use in high seismic regions (Zones 3 and 4). However, based on the observed failure modes, minor modifications to the connection are suggested that will increase the ductility of the connection.