Shake table testing plan for multiple non-structural elements & contents in a low–damage structural steel building

The Robust Building Systems (ROBUST) project is aimed at enhancing the seismic resilience of buildings by introducing and validating low-damage concepts for the structural and non-structural elements (NSEs). A three-story, full-scale, structural steel building will be tested at the International Joint Research Laboratory of Earthquake Engineering (ILEE) at Tongji University, with multiple structural details, NSEs, and contents under unidirectional and bidirectional horizontal shaking. This project includes an objective and detailed plan for testing acceleration and drift-sensitive non-structural elements encompassing typical New Zealand design and construction practices along with some low-damage concepts. A total of five NSEs will be included in the test: 1) suspended ceilings, 2) partitions walls, 3) precast cladding panels, 4) glazing, and 5) fire sprinkler piping systems. Partitions walls, being drift-sensitive, will be installed on the ground level of the test structure, whereas suspended ceilings and fire sprinkler piping systems, being acceleration-sensitive, will be installed in the upper two levels. Moreover, precast claddings & glazing, which are sensitive to both drift and acceleration demands, will be attached to the upper two levels. Further, different contents will be set in the third story to understand their seismic response under different constraints. Each non-structural element is currently designed and configured to address specific performance objectives which are essential to improving its seismic performance. The testing will lead to an enhanced understanding of NSEs and contents, and provide grounds to improve the existing design standards and practices