Analysis of dynamic testing performed on structural clay tile infilled frames

The behavior of two structural clay tile infilled frames subjected to dynamic loading is investigated. The testing was performed by USACERL using a biaxial shake table machine on which two framed infills were spaced nine feet apart and connected by steel trusses and an eight inch concrete roof slab. The infills were composed of structural clay tile block which were laid with the cores horizontal. The specimen was loaded in both the out-of-plane and in- plane directions using a site specific time history record. The testing focused on determining frame and panel load- deflection behavior, acceleration amplification, and frequency degradation characteristics.

The out-of-plane tests resulted in little degradation of frequency which means there was little loss of stiffness. There was no evidence of the infill "walking-out" of the steel frame; in fact the infill still had substantial stability after completion of the out-of-plane tests. As a result of the gradual increase in ground motion in the in- plane testing, the stiffness of the specimen gradually decreased. Strength and stiffness characteristics obtained from the dynamic testing were comparable to results and behavior seen in static tests. Degradation in the panel was much more rapid under the stronger ground motions which were produced during the sine sweep tests.