Experimental study of post-tensioned hybrid coupled wall system with friction devices at the beam-to-wall connection region

Post-tensioned coupled shear wall system is a new type of seismic lateral force resisting systems with self-centering capability. In this system, the coupling beam is not embedded into the walls, and coupling of concrete walls is achieved by posttensioning beam to the walls using unbonded post-tensioning (PT) strands. In this research, the cyclic behavior of post-tensioned steel coupling beam with friction devices at the beam-to-wall connection region is experimentally evaluated. Three 2/3-scale specimens were tested subjected to quasi‐static lateral loading. The specimens consisted of one control specimen without energy dissipation system and two specimens equipped with friction devices with different levels of damper normal force. Friction devices are used at the beam-to-wall connections to slip and dissipate the seismic input energy. The test results revealed that the specimens equipped with friction devices have excellent lateral stiffness, strength, and ductility, and have significant energy dissipation capacity and negligible residual displacements under reversed cyclic loading. In addition, the specimens is able to tolerate large nonlinear rotations without significant damage in the beam and the wall region. Adding friction devices increased the load-carrying capacity by 47% to 62% and significantly increased the energy dissipation capacity of the specimens. With a 30% increase in the damper normal force, the load capacity increased by about 10%, the average relative energy dissipation ratio by about 15% and the mean cumulative energy dissipation capacity by about 33%.