Seismic performance of semi-rigid steel frame infilled with prefabricated damping wall panels

Abstract

In this research, two innovative semi-rigid steel frames infilled with prefabricated damping wall panels in different types of connection are proposed. Working principles and main features of the developed infill system with both uncoupling mechanism and sliding joints are defined. A quasi-static test was conducted to explore the seismic response of the two systems, as compared with a bare steel frame. Test results confirm that the detrimental infill-frame interaction is prevented by the proposed wall panels. Both specimens infilled with prefabricated damping wall panels characterize a considerably large deformation capacity up to 3.33% drift, while significant crack or corner crushing in the wall panels is not observed, contributed to the configurations of the prefabricated damping wall panels. The infilled steel frames have stable seismic behavior similar to the bare steel frame without infill, indicating that the prefabricated damping wall panels can be designated as an additional safety stock with damping for the steel frame rather than the major component of strength, stiffness, and brittleness. Specifically, thanks to satisfactory energy dissipation capacity of the damping layers, dissipated energy of steel frame infilled with the prefabricated damping wall panels is about 23.3% larger than the bare steel frame after yielding. Moreover, it would be a more effective and controllable configuration that the lateral displacement of the upper wall panel is directly enforced by the top beam.