Seismic behavior and design of unbonded post-tensioned precast concrete frames

Unbonded post-tensioned precast concrete walls are constructed by post-tensioning precast wall panels across horizontal joints using post-tensioning steel which is not bonded to the concrete. This paper describes an analytical investigation of the seismic behavior and design of these walls. Unbonded post-tensioned precast walls with strength and initial stiffness similar to monolithic cast-in-place concrete walls can be designed to soften and undergo large nonlinear lateral drift with little damage. The nonlinear behavior is primarily due to the opening of gaps along the horizontal joints. A performance-based seismic design approach is proposed in which the walls are required to resist design level ground motions with little damage and severe survival level ground motions with damage but without failure. Shear slip along the horizontal joints is prevented by design. Nonlinear dynamic analyses show that, compared to cast-in-place walls, unbonded post-tensioned precast walls undergo larger drift, but accumulate significantly smaller residual drift during an earthquake.