In-plane response of two storeys infilled reinforced concrete frame using a pseudo-dynamic testing framework

Laboratory tests are fundamental in seismic engineering to assess the seismic performance of the structural and non-structural components. To date dynamic tests on shaking table is the most reliable testing procedure to accurately reproduce seismic actions. However, most of the testing infrastructures available worldwide does not allow full-scale testing due to limitation in the payload. To fill this gap, pseudo-dynamic (PSD) frameworks are becoming popular. Recently, a PSD testing framework has been implemented at the full-scale Laboratory of CeSMA of the University of Naples Federico II. This paper shows the experimental results of a PSD testing program on two storeys infilled reinforced concrete frames. The specimen reproduced in the laboratory, represents a portion of an existing building damaged by L’Aquila 2009 earthquake. A substructuring method is used to define the mass matrix and to apply realistic seismic actions to the specimen. The experimental results are discussed and compared with those obtained from the numerical model of the entire building to assess the accuracy of the testing procedure and the adopted substructuring assumptions.