Experimental study on the seismic performance of steel frames with infill ALC wall panels

Abstract

To explore the seismic performance of H-shaped steel frames with infill precast autoclaved lightweight concrete (ALC) wall panels, the horizontal low-cyclic loading tests were conducted under vertical load. The influence of the connector style, the arrangement, and the integrity of the wall panels on the seismic performance of the structure were analyzed depending on four specimens of H-shaped steel frames with ALC wall panels and one hollow H-shaped steel frame. The failure mode, bearing capacity, rigidity and strength degradation, and energy dissipation performance were compared and discussed. The results showed that the steel frame with infill wall panels had better ductility and energy-dissipating capacity than the hollow frame. The infill ALC wall panels greatly enhanced the seismic performance of the frames and had a significant influence on the bearing capacity, stiffness, energy dissipation capacity, and ductility performance of the specimens. The maximum ductility factors and total energy dissipation of the steel frame with ordinary infill wall panels were 1.58 times and 2.27 times larger than those of the hollow frame. Due to cooperation with the steel frame, the panels delayed the buckling and in-plane deformation of the frame. The sliding connector improved the bearing capacity, displacement ductility, and energy dissipation of the overall structure compared with the hooking connector. Moreover, the bearing capacity of the frames with the reinforced wall panels was improved further. Additionally, the equivalent compression bar model was developed to estimate the bearing capacity of the steel frames with the infill ALC wall panels. The experimental conclusions and the proposed analytical model improve the practical design of the steel frames with the infill ALC wall panels in high-rise buildings.