Seismic Performance of the Pre-Fabricated Steel Frame Infilled with AAC Wall Panels and their Joint Connection: Full-Scale Shaking Table Test

Abstract

A series of shaking table tests were performed to investigate the seismic behavior of the pre-fabricated steel frame structure infilled with autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) external wall panels. The reliability of a new type of joint connections adopted in the structure between the steel frame and the wall panels was particularly validated during the test. Dynamic tests were carried out on a two-story full-scaled steel frame, considering seismic loading of three earthquake waves with different imposed peak accelerations in the range of 70[Formula: see text]cm/s2 to 400[Formula: see text]cm/s2. The experimental analyses encompassed cracking patterns, failure mechanisms, dynamic property and seismic response of the structure. The results show that the structural components, including the joint connections between the steel frame and the walls, behaved well even under the rare earthquake at 8∘. The structural stiffness of the steel frame infilled with wall panels was increased by 56%, compared with the steel frame infilled without wall panels. The damping ratio of the undamaged steel frame installed with wall panels was 7.25%.