Seismic Performance Evaluation of Posttensioned Hybrid Precast Wall-Frame Buildings and Comparison with Shear Wall-Frame Buildings

Seismic performance of posttensioned hybrid precast wall systems has been mainly studied in the past without considering the interaction of the wall system with the rest of the structure. In the present study, the multilevel seismic response of posttensioned hybrid precast wall-frame (PWF) buildings is evaluated using nonlinear response history analysis and compared with the response of shear wall-frame (SWF) buildings under unidirectional excitation. For that purpose, three-dimensional finite-element models of code-compliant 4-and 8-story PWF and SWF buildings designed with different frame shear ratios are considered. The performance of buildings is evaluated under spectrum-matched earthquake motions to represent two levels of shaking viz the design earthquake (DE) level and the risk-targeted maximum considered earthquake (MCER) level. The effect of the vertical component of earthquake motion on the peak response indicators of both types of buildings is also studied. It is determined that the seismic performance of PWF buildings is superior to SWF buildings in terms of limiting structural damage under the DE-level and the MCER-level ground motions, despite the relatively larger roof drifts observed in the PWF buildings; however, nonstructural damage caused by floor accelerations is more pronounced in the PWF buildings. In addition, it is determined that the inclusion of the vertical component of earthquake motion does not significantly affect the peak response indicators of the PWF and SWF buildings considered in this study. (C) 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.