Results of pseudo-static tests with cyclic horizontal load on concrete/polystyrene sandwich bearing panels without openings

In recent years, the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete bearing squat walls structures has been the object of several research works. 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 in Pavia. This effort was devoted at the assessment of the seismic performances of structures (cellular structures) composed of lightly reinforced concrete/polystyrene sandwich bearing squat walls. In order to obtain a correct characterization of seismic behavior (stiffness, strength, ductility) of such structures, a number of tests were performed upon two dimensional (3.0 m by 3.0 m) panels with and without openings. In the experimental tests a number of horizontal loading cycles were imposed to the structures, while the vertical load was kept constant. The results obtained have shown that the tested panels are characterized by: (i) absence of a real failure; (ii) high values of the maximum horizontal load applied to the structural systems (higher than the applied vertical load); (iii) residual bearing capacity w.r.t. the vertical loads, also when large lateral deformations were developed; (iv) a good degree of kinematic ductility.