Title: Influence of hollow-core wall panels on the cyclic behavior of different types of steel framing systems
Date Published: September - October 2021
Volume: 66
Issue: 5
Page Numbers: 39 - 53
Authors: Parsa Monfaredi, Mehdi Nazarpour, and Abdoreza S. Moghadam
https://doi.org/10.15554/pcij66.5-02

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Abstract

Hollow-core precast concrete panels are widely used in commercial, industrial, and warehouse buildings as exterior or interior partitions. Because these infill walls are considered nonstructural elements, their interaction with the surrounding frame during an earthquake has been mostly neglected. This paper describes experimental research that evaluated the seismic behavior of different types of steel frames with hollow-core infill under reversed cyclic loading and discusses the effects of the hollow-core panels. Three identical half-scale steel frames were built and tested in the same manner. A steel moment-resisting frame and a gravity frame with hollow-core panels were compared with a frame with no infill walls. The test results indicated that under moderate to high shaking intensity, hollow-core panels rocked within the frame could provide additional stiffness, strength, and energy dissipation to the bare frame, as well as better flexibility and ductility. A comparison of failure mechanisms revealed the advantage of hollow-core panels in the postponement of plastic hinge formation and reduction of structural damage severity at higher drift ratios. This study shows that hollow-core walls can have a positive impact on the overall seismic response of the structure, despite being regarded as nonstructural elements.