A comparative experimental study on the performance evaluation of infilled rc frames using quasi-static and pseudo-dynamic testing methods

An experimental investigation on three identical 1/3-scaled reinforced concrete (RC) infilled frame specimens was conducted. The specimens were one-bay and one-story type and loaded laterally from top of column location. The first specimen was tested with quasi-static (QS) test method using a drift-based reversed cyclic loading pattern. The pseudo-dynamic testing (PsD) method was carried out with simulated low and high inertial masses representing bottom and top story levels of typical mid-rise RC buildings. A selected ground motion acceleration record was used representing the current Turkish Earthquake Code (TEC, 2007) acceleration spectra which consist of service, design and ultimate PGA levels of 0.20g, 0.40g and 0.60g, respectively. The sectional and global response parameters such as strength, stiffness, energy dissipation capability and damage observations were compared between these two test methods. The observed damage levels resulting from PsD testing methodology could be interpreted using various PGA intensities. However, in QS testing, these intensity variations cannot be readily obtained from the test results since no direct relation exists between drift-based and intensity-based loadings. When comparing the two different test methodologies, although the strength and the stiffness degradations corresponding to each level of PGA intensity were consistent with each other, the energy dissipation of the specimens that was obtained from the PsD testing became more than the one tested with QS test for the same level of story drifts.