The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

An experimental program for studying the dynamic response of a steel frame with a variety of infill partitions

Yanev, Bojidar; McNiven, Hugh D.

UCB/EERC-85/16, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 1985-12, 66 pages (515/Y36/1990)

An experimental program was conducted to establish the extent to which partitions in buildings influence the response of the fundamental frame of the building during an earthquake. Conversely, the effect of the deformation of the frame on the partition is also clarified. Commonly used masonry partitions of two sizes were tested under a variety of boundary conditions. The study will show that the contribution of a partition to the stiffness of the frame and the survival characteristics of a partition vary considerably from one type of partition to another. The partitions studied all have the same infill characteristics. They are prevented from sustaining vertical loading by being built free of the top of the framing. They are, however, built tightly against the frame columns and are, in some cases, sealed to them. Accordingly, the partitions are made to sustain the deformation characteristics of the frame during its response to earthquake motions. One of the important findings of the program was the way in which the damage to the masonry partitions in particular was inflicted. Stud partitions of both prefabricated and common timber were included.

Available online: http://nisee.berkeley.edu/documents/EERC/EERC-85-16.pdf (3 MB)