Cyclic behavior of partially-restrained steel frame with RC infill walls

In order to investigate the behavior of partially-restrained steel frame with RC infill wall (PSRCW), two specimens with one-third scale, one-bay, and two-story were performed under reversed cyclic lateral load, where one specimen was with concealed vertical slits in the infill walls and another specimen with solid infill walls. Test results showed that both specimens obtained enough lateral stiffness for controlling drift and yielded enough strength appropriate for resisting lateral load. PSRCW with solid infill walls exhibited moderate ductility capacity and energy dissipation due to the degradation of post-peak strength. PSRCW with concealed vertical slits exhibited much larger ductility, deformability, and energy dissipation capacity than the other one. Once concealed vertical slits were crushed, infill walls behaved as a series of flexural columns provided fairly ductile response and stable cyclic performance. PSRCW with concealed vertical slits can improve post-peak strength degradation considerably. In addition, damaged PSRCW structure subjected to earthquake is easy to be repaired, through knocking off the heavy crushed infill walls and recasting concrete infill walls. This is another advantage of this composite structure.

Research highlights
► Concealed vertical slits were presented to improve the seismic behavior of PSRCW.
► Two PSRCW specimens were performed under cyclic lateral load.
► Global and local behavior of both specimens were analyzed and concluded.
► PSRCW with concealed vertical slits has excellent seismic performance.