Experimental study on seismic behavior of shear wall with cast-in-situ concrete infilled walls

To study the effects of cast-in-situ concrete exterior infilled walls on the seismic behavior of shear wall structure, quasi-static tests on ten full scale wall specimens with infilled walls of different construction methods or shapes, together with two comparison specimens without infilled walls, were completed. The test results indicate that the effects of infilled walls separated by polystyrene strip and PVC strip on the behavior of the main structure are similar, and both cases change the failure process and final failure mode of main structure to a certain extent. The ductility at failure of the specimens separated by PVC strip is better than that of the specimens separated by polystyrene strip.The infilled walls enhance the load-carrying capacities of the specimens. The peak loads of the specimens with infilled walls separated by polystyrene strip are close to those separated by PVC strip, and their peak loads are 1.37-3.31 times that of the comparison specimens. The infilled walls weaken the deformability of specimens, the ultimate story drift ratios of the specimens with infilled walls separated by polystyrene strip are 20%-65% of those of comparison specimens, and the deformation capacity of the specimens with infilled walls separated by PVC strip are much larger than those of the specimens with infilled walls separated polystyrene strip. The ultimate story drift ratios of all specimens except that with wall filled in structural hole separated by polystyrene strip meet the seismic deformability requirement for shear walls. The elastic and inelastic stiffnesses of the specimens increase significantly owing to the existence of the infilled walls. Based on the test results, the detrimental effects of infilled walls are suggested to be considered in structural calculation. Walls with structural holes should be avoided in engineering projects. Measures should be taken to strengthen both the structural members around infilled walls and the infilled walls themselves.