What type of wall construction are precast tilt slab walls associated with?

Precast tilt slab walls are primarily associated with vertical cantilevers. This wall construction method involves the precast concrete slabs being tilted into position and anchored to the foundation. The cantilever aspect comes from the design where portions of the wall extend outward from the main structure, relying on the attributes of the precast material to maintain structural integrity while resisting vertical loads and lateral forces.

These walls effectively support both gravity loads and lateral loads, making them a popular choice in commercial and industrial construction. The properties of precast concrete allow for greater control over the materials and construction process, providing durability and speed of installation.

By contrast, vertical load-bearing walls specifically refer to structures whose primary purpose is to support vertical loads from the roof and upper floors, while horizontal shear walls are designed to resist lateral forces, such as wind or seismic activity, in a horizontal plane. Column-free spaces typically involve open areas within a structure that utilize beams and girders to distribute loads, rather than walls that themselves provide sufficient support.