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SummaryA novel horizontal and vertical wall-to-wall and wall-to-floor connection methods for precast box-modularized structure with reinforced concrete shear walls (PBSRCSWs) are proposed in this paper. The entailing behavior of the proposed connections and the seismic performance of one full-scale six-story PBSRCSWs were experimentally studied by means of pseudodynamic substructure tests. In order to improve the relevant experimental accuracy, we presented and validated one versatile testing platform Hytest, combined with external displacement feedback control (EDFC; Hytest with EDFC). In greater detail, it was shown from the pseudodynamic substructure test results that the proposed Hytest with EDFC can effectively impose the desired displacements on the specimens rather than on the actuators. Moreover, both the horizontal and vertical wall-to-wall connections proposed for the PBSRCSWs exhibited a favorable behavior whilst the PBSRCSWs subjected to earthquake records showed an excellent seismic performance. KEYWORDSconcrete connection, external displacement feedback control, precast box-modularized structure, pseudodynamic substructure test, reinforced concrete shear wall, seismic performance

The measurement or estimation of the degree of internationalization of multinational corporations (MNCs) remains lacking although many studies have been completed on MNCs in the construction industry. Dunning's Eclectic Paradigm suggests that the determinants of internationalization depends on the ownership (O), locational (L) and internalization (I) advantages of a firm. Another important factor relates to the involvement of a firm among specialized fields in the construction industry, i.e. the specialty (S) advantages. This paper proposes the OLI+S model for measuring/estimating the internationalization process of construction MNCs, according to nationalities, using the following ratios: O-IRTR, L-IBD, I-OMS and S-ISF. Major players in the international construction market were analysed using these ratios. The OLI+S model shows that construction MNCs from different nationalities demonstrated different patterns in the internationalization process depending on their business strategies, indigenous market situations, historical factors, etc. among others.internationalization, construction, ownership, locational, internalization, specialty, nationalities,

While British contractors have one of the longest history and experience in the international construction market, Chinese contractors are relative newcomers where the global market is concerned. This study compares the performance of top British and Chinese contractors based on the OLI+S model, which incorporates the ownership (O), locational(L), internalization (I) and specialty (S) factors. The study suggests that the international involvement of top British contractors has declined from a peak in 1996, while that of the top Chinese contractors has grown steadily since the 1980s. All the OLI+S advantages of top British construction firms were higher than those of their Chinese counterparts even though the number of Chinese construction firms ranked in the top 225 international contractors by the US-based Engineering News Record was higher than that of the British firms. This study further recommends that the internalization and specialty advantages of top British firms and some of the ownership advantages of top Chinese firms may provide them with opportunities to work together in many areas.International Construction, Firms, Performance, Great Britain, China,