Seismic Behavior of a Hybrid Precast Concrete Wall Specimen: Measured Response versus Design Predictions

This paper presents the results from the testing of a 0.4-scale “hybrid” precast concrete wall specimen under reversed-cyclic lateral loads combined with gravity loading. The specimen was designed to conform to the requirements of ACI ITG-5.2 (2009) and tested according to ACI ITG-5.1 (2007) to ultimately support the validation of hybrid precast walls for use in moderate and high seismic regions based on ACI 318 (2008). The measured behavior of the structure is discussed and compared with design predictions, focusing specifically on the applied lateral load and displacement, energy dissipation, performance of the steel reinforcement, and behavior along the horizontal base-panel-to-foundation and panel-to-panel joints. The test structure was not able to reach the maximum required drift level due to a combination of poor unconfined concrete strength and poor placement of the confinement reinforcement at the toes. However, the performance of the wall up to this premature failure level was consistent with the expected behavior, thus validating the procedure that was used in the design of the structure.