Experimental Research on the Seismic Behavior of the SRC Short-Pier Shear Wall with Layered Braces Structures

A new type of construction employing shaped steels as boundary elements and layered braces of RC(Reinforced Concrete) short-pier shear wall is put forward. The braces are in X shape and are erected in a multi-storied form. They are embedded in the boundary zone and the web of SRC (Steel Reinforced Concrete) short-pier shear wall respectively to make it possible to improve the bearing capacity and ductility of this shear wall and to improve its seismic performance. Three half-scale specimens of the SRC short-pier shear wall are tested under reversed cyclic loading. High design axial load radio of 0.5 is used. The failure processes and modes of the specimens are observed. The law about bearing capacity and displacement ductility of the specimens influenced by the layered braces structures is revealed. The experimental results show that the displacement ductility is closely related to the amount of stories of braces. The specimens with layered braces structures have better ductility and larger bearing capacity, and therefore the layered braces structures effectively improve the seismic performance of the SRC short-pier shear wall.