Seismic performance of precast concrete walls with grouted sleeve connections using large-diameter bars

This paper proposes an innovative assembly technique using large-diameter bars anchored in several single-row, widely spaced grouted sleeves at the keyway-type horizontal joint to realize an indirect vertical connection between adjacent precast concrete (PC) walls, which has the advantages of high efficiency and ease of con-struction. To examine the effect of vertical connection strength (rebars' diameter at horizontal joints) on the seismic performance of PC shear walls, quasi-static cyclic loading tests on five full-size wall specimens, including one cast-in-place specimen and four PC specimens with grouted sleeve connections, are carried out. Seismic performance indicators in terms of failure modes, hysteresis characteristics, energy dissipation, ductility, and stiffness degradation of PC walls are investigated and compared with those of the cast-in-situ wall. Meanwhile, the method for predicting the bearing capacity of PC walls with large-diameter rebars is developed. The results show that the failure modes of cast-in-situ and precast walls are controlled by bending instead of shear, but there is an obvious difference in the crack propagation between the two types of walls. Carrying capacity, ductility factor, stiffness, and energy dissipation of PC walls are significantly enhanced by increasing the connection strength, by 44.1%, 23.9%, 72.1%, and 24.0%, respectively, when the connection strength reaches around 90%. Particularly, the PC wall's seismic performance is comparable to that of the cast-in-situ wall when the connection strength is 90%. The calculated results are well-matched with the experimental results, the proposed calculation method reliably predicts the bearing capacity of PC walls with large-diameter rebars. The assembly technique can be safely applied to multi-story PC wall panel structures in seismic zones.