In situ pushover test of an existing two storey RC frame designed for gravity loads
Simone Peloso1, Chiara Casarotti1, Alberto Pavese2, Filippo Dacarro1, Giuseppe Sinopoli1
1 European Centre for Training and Research in Eartquake Engineering
via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia – Italy
2 Università degli Studi di Pavia
via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia – Italy
Abstract. The present study has been carried out within the framework of the research project PRISMA (PiattafoRme cloud Interoperabili per SMArt-government), with the purpose of studying the response of existing constructions designed for gravity loads only in the Sicily Region (Italy). A two storey reinforced concrete building, located nearby Messina city has been chosen as a case study. The building was built in the 80s, up to the completion of the bearing structure, floors and infill panels.
In order to design the test, numerical study on the structure have been conducted, using different softwares and a number of numerical models of the structure, in order to account for the uncertainties related to the mechanical characteristics of the materials and of the structural response, and to consider the interaction with the reaction structure.
The pseudo-static pushover test has been designed to push and pull the building in one direction. The testing system was made up of 3 actuators reacting on 3 RC walls built on purpose inside the structure and connected to the frame foundations, suitably reinforced to resist the additional stress generated by the test. The test was conducted under displacement control, imposing 8 increasing levels of displacement from 3 mm to 62 mm, for a maximum drift of about 2%. At the end of the test, the infill panels were completely collapsed. Beams, columns and joints showed plastic hinges and shear failures in different parts of the structure, with spread concrete spalling.
Keywords: In situ Push-Over tests, existing RC building, damage mechanism, full scale tests, seismic capacity evaluation.
