Experimental and numerical assessment of dissipative connections for precast structures with cladding panels

The stability of the cladding wall panels of precast structures under seismic action can be ensured by means of a dissipative system of connections in between the panels that allows to control the level of forces and to limit the displacements. The connection system consists of friction-based or plasticity-based devices inserted into appropriate recesses within the joints between vertical or horizontal panels, which are connected to the structure through a statically determined arrangement. By activating the devices, the cladding panels become integral part of the whole façade, making it much stiffer up to the limit force associated with the friction threshold or yielding of the devices. The paper presents the technological choices of materials and shapes that ensure a stable hysteretic behaviour of dissipative devices based on friction and/or plasticity and shows the results of monotonic and cyclic experimental tests performed on both single connectors and structural sub-assemblies consisting of two full scale panels. Finally, the results of non-linear dynamic analyses carried out on a single story precast concrete frame building show the seismic performance of the dual frame/wall system with dissipative connections between the panels