Reversed cyclic tests on precast concrete shear walls with grouted corrugated metallic duct connections

The grouted corrugated metallic duct (GCMD) connections represent a feasible solution for precast concrete shear walls (PCSWs) thanks to their lowered construction difficulty, improved grouting reliability and reduced costs compared with the grouted steel sleeve splices (GSS). However, applications and related studies on PCSWs with GCMD are very limited, especially for their use in seismic active regions. Reversed cyclic test on six full scale shear wall specimens was conducted, considering both low and high axial compression ratios of 0.12 and 0.3. The test program includes two PCSWs with hybrid connections (GSS in the boundary elements and GCMD in the middle part of the walls), two PCSW with GCMD and two CIP reference specimens. Test results showed that all specimens failed by flexural-shear and the walls under high axial compression underwent earlier failure. The hysteretic curves of the PCSWs were found relatively wider than the CIP walls. The load carrying capacities of the PCSWs were very close to that of the CIP specimen. Under low axial compression, the PCSWs with GCMD, with hybrid connection and the CIP wall shared similar displacement ductility (4.11, 4.35 and 4.44, respectively). Under higher axial compression, the ductility of the PCSWs with GCMD (2.42) and with hybrid connections (2.36) was very close, which however was significantly higher than that of the CIP specimen (1.63). In addition, it was also revealed that precast specimens with GCMD had similar stiffness degradation characteristics to those of the PCSWs with hybrid connection and CIP specimen.