Shaking table tests of a PRES LAM frame with and without additional energy dissipating devices: Design and testing set-up.

Post-tensioned timber (PRES LAM) is a new form of seismic resistant construction which already has real building applications throughout New Zealand. The innovative high seismic performance system combines the use of precast concrete PRESSS technology and engineered wood products combining post-tensioning elements (providing re-centring) with large timber members. Additional steel dissipation devices are often also placed in order to provide additional strength and dissipative capacity. The following paper describes the design, fabrication and set-up of a dynamic testing campaign to be performed in the structural laboratory of the University of Basilicata (UNIBAS) in Potenza, Italy. The test specimen is a 2/3rd scale, 3-storey post-tensioned timber frame and wall are to be studied both with and without the addition of dissipative steel angles which are designed to yield at a certain level of drift in order to provide the desirable ‘flag shaped’ hysteretic response. These steel angles release energy through hysteresis during movement thus increasing damping as well as providing additional strength. The ratio between post-tensioning and energy dissipation provided will be altered between tests in order to investigate their contribution to dynamic frame performance. The specimen will be subjected to an increasing level of seismic loading using a set of 7 natural earthquakes selected from the European Strong Motion database. This paper first describes the testing set-up, the fabrication of the test specimen and testing apparatus and the selection of cases which will be tested