Squat concrete walls: results of pseudo-static tests with cyclic horizontal load on cast in situ sandwich panels

This paper presents the results obtained in a wide experimental campaign carried out as a joint effort between the University of Bologna and the Eucentre labs (Pavia). This effort was devoted at the assessment of the seismic performances of cellular structures composed cast in situ sandwich squat concrete walls. In order to obtain a correct characterization of seismic behavior of such structures, a number of tests were performed upon two dimensional cast in situ sandwich squat concrete walls. 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: absence of a real failure; high values of the maximum horizontal load applied to the structural systems; residual bearing capacity w.r.t. the vertical loads, also when large lateral deformations were developed; a good degree of kinematic ductility.