Cyclic testing of square CFST frames with ALC panel or block walls

Abstract

An experimental program was conducted to investigate seismic behavior and failure modes of square concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) frames with autoclaved lightweight aerated concrete (ALC) walls. Four specimens of square CFST frames with ALC panel or block walls and one pure specimen of square CFST frame were carried out under vertical axial loading and horizontal low-cyclic loading. The connector type, the wall connection type, the wall type and the wall thickness were considered. The failure modes, hysteretic behavior, strength and rigidity degradation, ductility and energy-dissipating performance of all specimens were analyzed and discussed. The experimental results indicated that this typed square CFST frames with ALC walls exhibited good ductility and hysteretic energy-dissipating capacity. The embedded ALC walls greatly improved the rigidity and strength of square CFST frame compared with the external ALC walls. By reasonable construction measures and reliable connectors, such as hooked bolt, rocking connector, U-typed connector and angle steel, the square CFST frame with ALC walls displayed good cooperative behavior and safety reliability. They can be applied in high-rise composite structure buildings.