Study on Seismic Damage Performance of Aeolian Sand Concrete Shear Walls with Hidden Bracings

To evaluate the seismic performance of aeolian sand concrete shear walls with hidden bracings, a total of 6 specimens were designed and constructed. These specimens were subjected to low cyclic load experiments while maintaining a constant axial compression ratio to assess the impact of the hidden bracings installation on the seismic performance of these walls. The findings reveal that the failure patterns of the shear walls, both with and without hidden bracings, are comparable. The formation and development of plastic hinges were observed at the wall’s base, which result in significant structural failure. The aeolian sand concrete shear walls with hidden bracings have superior load-bearing capacities when compared to their conventional counterparts under same lateral displacements. The hysteresis curves obtained from all 6 specimens are relatively complete and display an evident pinching effect. The aeolian sand concrete shear walls equipped with hidden bracings demonstrate enhanced seismic energy dissipation and ductility relative to the ordinary ones. After analysis and comparison, it is determined that a cumulative damage analysis model, based on repeated energy loads of concrete structures, aligns well with test results. This model proves to be an effective tool for evaluating the damage performance of aeolian sand concrete shear walls with hidden bracings.