We completed shake-table tests on a nonductile concrete frame this past Thursday, February 16, 2006. The structure is a three-bay by three-story plane frame. Half the frame has pre-1976 UBC ordinary details and the other half has ductile details - the odd mix is to slow down the collapse so we can observe the behavior in more detail.
Initial testing started last week. One of the interior columns sustained shear failure and began to shorten axially but did not completely fail. [view the test]
We completed testing with two more runs using the Llolleo motion. The test frame was prevented from complete collapse by a restraining system, but the moment of truth is apparent.
It was a tougher frame than anticipated. Congratulations to Wassim Ghannoum for a fine conclusion to the experimental program. For more information about this shake-table experimentation, please see: Collapse of Lightly Confined Reinforced Concrete Frames During Earthquakes (PDF file - 672 KB).
- Prof. Jack Moehle, PEER Director
