Experimental and numerical study on the seismic behavior of groove grouting precast concrete shear walls with different joint types

A groove grouting precast concrete shear wall (GGPCSW) subjected to seismic performance tests was explored in this research. Four full-scale specimens were designed for use in quasi-static experiments. These specimens included three GGPCSWs with different joint types (i.e., a horizontal joint, a vertical joint, and a combination of horizontal and vertical joints) and one reference cast-in-place reinforced concrete shear wall (CIPRCSW). The failure modes, failure process, hysteresis curves, bearing capacity, stiffness degradation, and ductility of the GGPCSWs were clarified. The experimental results revealed that all shear wall specimens failed in the flexural-shear failure mode. The crack distribution, load capacity, energy consumption, and stiffness degradation of the GGPCSW with a horizontal joint were found to be basically the same as those of the CIPRCSW before the displacement angle reached 1/100. The positive load capacity of the GGPCSW with a vertical joint was 22.5% greater than that of the CIPRCSW under the same conditions. It is noteworthy that the peak load of the GGPCSW with a combination of horizontal and vertical joints was basically the same as that of the GGPCSW with a vertical joint, while the ultimate displacement was 14% less than that of the GGPCSW with a horizontal joint. Furthermore, the GGPCSWs demonstrated a comparable level of ductility to the CIPRCSW, meeting the necessary deformability criteria. Finally, a series of numerical analyses were completed to investigate the skeleton curves, the distribution of the concrete damage, and the stress distribution of the steel bars. The findings were basically consistent with the test results, and further parametric investigations of GGPCSWs were performed.