The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

Earthquake simulator study of a steel frame structure, Vol. I: Experimental results

Clough, Ray W.; Tang, David T.

UCB/EERC-75/06, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 1975-04, 293 pages (550.3/C58/1975/v.1)

This volume describes mainly the test results of the earthquake simulator study of a three-story single-bay moment-resistant steel frame structure using the 20 by 20 ft shaking table at the Earthquake Engineering Research Center at the Univ. of California, Berkeley. Two series of tests were performed on the structure. In the first series, or Phase I study, the panel zones were underdesigned; then for the Phase II tests the panel zones were reinforced to make the girders and columns the weak elements of the structure. The details of the structure are presented together with the instrumentation programs; the extent of the data collected in the tests is described. In addition to the small amplitude dynamic properties of the structure, pertinent test data on the mechanical behavior of the steel and the typical girder-to-column connection from coupon and pseudodynamic tests are appended. The global responses of the structure under four types of table excitations are examined in seven test runs, two linear and five with significant nonlinear strains. From the four of these tests which used the El Centro 1940 N-S earthquake input, the detailed local responses of the structure such as force and deformation time histories, hysteresis diagrams and tabulated extreme values are shown. Key observations are made on the test results obtained in each of the seven runs. Conclusions regarding the reliability of the test data and the general performance of the test structure are drawn. Recommendations are made concerning the future use of the shaking table in this type of test program.

Available online: http://nisee.berkeley.edu/documents/EERC/EERC-75-06.pdf (19 MB)