Numerical investigation of a new precast concrete shear wall system with horizontal connections

As a series study of the seismic behavior of the new precast concrete shear wall system with horizontal connections (PSWHs) proposed based on the design concept of plastic damage relocation, this numerical study continues the previous experimental study to fully understand the structure behaviors of PSWHs under lateral low-cyclic loading and further to supplement the basic data for engineering use. A modeling strategy overcoming the convergence difficulty caused by highly nonlinear behaviors of connection joints was first proposed in this study for reference to the numerical investigations on this kind of component. A precise finite element model was developed based on the modeling strategy and validated by comparing it with experimental results. Then a parametric analysis is systematically carried out to investigate the effect of key design parameters, including the axial load ratio (ALR), the ratio of longitudinal reinforcement of the shear wall (RLR), the ratio of transfer height of the shear wall (RTH), and the ratio of embedment depth of steel connectors (RED), on the structure behaviors of PSWHs under lateral low-cyclic loading. Two failure modes including brittle shear failure mode and ductile bending failure mode were observed in the numerical simulations. The recommended values of ALR, RLR, RTH and RED were given based on the comprehensive consideration of concrete damage, energy dissipation capacity and displacement ductility to achieve the optimization of the seismic behaviors of PSWHs. The results of this study can provide technical support and a theoretical basis for the investigation or practical engineering of this kind of component.