Seismic Behavior of Lap Splice Reinforced Concrete Frames with Light-Steel-Framed Walls and Different Anchorage Details

In this study, the seismic behavior of light-steel-framed, infill-walled, lap splice reinforced concrete (RC) frames covered with steel sheets was experimentally investigated. A total of four RC frames to 1/5 scale, single-span and having two stories were produced for the experiments. One of the frames was a double-skeleton light-steel-framed infill-walled specimen having an anchorage spacing of 130 mm in the columns and the connection of the steel sheet plates to the profiles was made using self-drilling screws, and the other one had a 65 mm anchorage spacing in the columns and the connection of the steel sheet plates to the profiles was made using bolts. Two reference specimens were used. These are the bare frame and the aerated concrete infill wall frame. Tests of these specimens were carried out under constant axial load and reversed-cyclic lateral load. As a result of this study, it was observed that double-skeleton systems contributed positively to the lateral load-carrying capacity, energy-dissipation and initial stiffness of the RC frame. Additionally, it was concluded that the strength and energy-dissipation feature of the specimen could be increased by reducing the anchorage spacing in light-steel-framed wall systems and by attaching the steel sheet plate to the profiles using bolts.