Experimental and theoretical study on shear capacity of vertical joints in IPSW system

In order to verify the feasibility of vertical joints in an innovative precast shear wall (IPSW) system and investigate their seismic behaviors, two specimens were manufactured and low-cyclic reversed loading tests were carried out. The test results show that the connectors between the flange wall panel and the web wall panel, including the embedded limbic steel frame, the high-strength bolt and the connecting steel frame, can effectively transfer the interactional forces between the two wall panels and make them work cooperatively. Based on the maximum tensile stress theory, the plane cross-section assumption and the equilibrium condition of forces, and the shear resistant mechanism and the equilibrium condition of forces, the calculation models and theoretical formulas for the cracking load, the yield load, and the ultimate shear capacity were deduced, respectively. The results show that the test values of the cracking load, the yield load, and the ultimate shear capacity agree well with the corresponding theoretical values. Therefore, the novel scheme of vertical joints in IPSW system is feasible, and the calculation models and theoretical formulas for characteristic loads are reasonable.