Results of pseudo-static tests with cyclic horizontal load on cast in situ sandwich squat concrete walls

• Cellular structures composed of cast in situ sandwich squat concrete walls.
• Pseudo-static cyclic tests on real scale (3 m by 3 m) sandwich R/C panels.
• Panels composed of two 4-cm thick R/C layers + 10-cm thick polystyrene layer.
• The tested panels withstand high horizontal loads and presented good ductility.
• The seismic performances comparable with those of common R/C panels.

In recent years, the seismic behaviour of structural systems composed of squat concrete walls has been the object of a renewed interest. This paper presents the results obtained in a large experimental campaign carried out as a joint effort between the University of Bologna and the Eucentre labs in Pavia. This effort aims at the assessment of the seismic performances of cellular structures composed of cast in situ sandwich squat concrete walls. In order to shed light upon the seismic behaviour (stiffness, strength, ductility, energy-dissipation) of such structures, a number of tests were performed upon two dimensional (3.0 m by 3.0 m) cast in situ sandwich squat concrete walls (with and without openings). In the experimental tests a number of horizontal in-plane loading cycles were imposed to the specimens, while the vertical load was kept constant. The results obtained have shown that the tested elements are characterized by: (i) high values of the maximum horizontal load applied to the structural systems (higher than the applied vertical load); (ii) residual bearing capacity with respect to the vertical loads, also when large lateral deformations are imposed; and (iii) high ductility.