Large-scale shake-table test on a low damage concrete wall building: Numerical modelling and analysis

Abstract

To support the development of low-damage concrete structures, a system level shake-table test of a full-scale low-damage concrete wall building implementing state-of-art design concepts will be conducted on the multi-functional shake-table array at Tongji University as part of an international collaborative project. The test building has two stories and was designed with self-centering concrete walls and slotted beams. Different floor systems and wall-to-floor connections were incorporated in the test building to investigate common designs and detailing. A number of alternative energy dissipation devices were also installed at the wall base or/and slotted beam joints of the building. To provide a pre-test predicting and prepare for the further test building analysis, numerical models of the test building frames in long span and short span directions were established in OpenSees. Multi-spring and lumped plasticity elements were adopted to simulate the self-centering walls and slotted beam joints, respectively. The isolating wall-to-floor connections were considered in short span direction frame model. The simulation results under cyclic loading were used to validate the design of the test building, and showed that the test building achieved the low-damage structural design philosophy with good energy dissipation. The model will be used to further predict the results of the test building subjected to earthquake ground motions.