Shake Table Testing for Seismic Response Evaluation of Cold-Formed Steel-Framed Nonstructural Architectural Components

The seismic response evaluation of cold-formed steel-framed nonstructural architectural components was investigated in an experimental campaign carried out within of the research study agreement between Knauf Gips KG and the Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture of the University of Naples “Federico II”. The main objective of this research was to investigate the seismic performance of drywall nonstructural systems, i.e. cold-formed steel-framed indoor partition walls, outdoor façade walls and suspended ceilings. The present paper deals with the dynamic shake table tests. The tests were carried out on two different typologies of prototypes (Type 1 and Type 2) for a total number of five specimens. The influence on seismic response of basic and enhanced anti-seismic solutions, corresponding to the use of fixed or sliding connections at the walls and ceilings perimeter, was investigated. The seismic response evaluation of the systems under investigation has been performed according to ICBO-AC156 code with different levels of increasing intensity. Test results have been analysed in terms of dynamic identification, dynamic amplification, and fragility curves. Test results highlight that enhanced solutions have a better seismic response than basic solutions and indoor partition walls have a higher seismic “fragility” than outdoor facade walls.