Seismic Performance of Load-Bearing Prefabricated Concrete Sandwich Wall Boards

Abstract

Load-bearing prefabricated concrete sandwich wall panels (LBPCSW) offer potential for rapid construction and energy efficiency, yet their seismic performance requires systematic evaluation. In this study, quasi-static tests and finite element analysis were conducted on LBPCSW specimens with varying height-to-width ratios and embedded column configurations. The results indicate that the LBPCSW specimens exhibit satisfactory structural integrity, with all specimens achieving ductility coefficients greater than 3.0. Specifically, specimen W1 with a height-to-width ratio of 1:1 failed in shear, whereas specimens with a height-to-width ratio of 2:1 exhibited flexural failure. Compared with W1, specimen W2 with embedded columns at the wall ends demonstrated significantly enhanced load-bearing capacity and ductility. Parametric analysis revealed that concrete layer thickness is the dominant factor influencing load-bearing capacity: taking W1 as an example, as the single-side concrete layer thickness increased from 30 mm to 50 mm, the ultimate load-bearing capacity increased from 182 kN to 246 kN, representing a 35% improvement. In contrast, the effect of concrete strength was relatively minor: increasing the strength grade from C25 to C35 raised the ultimate load-bearing capacity from only 223 kN to 255 kN, an increase of merely 14%. It is concluded that the proposed LBPCSW combine favorable seismic performance with energy efficiency, representing a promising solution for shear wall systems in low-rise rural housing in earthquake-prone regions.