Seismic Behaviour of Strap-Braced LWS Structures: Shake Table Testing and Numerical Modelling

Nowadays Lightweight Steel (LWS) Constructions made with Cold-Formed Steel (CFS) profiles are currently used in seismic area, especially for residential buildings. The increasing use of these systems is accompanied by a large development of the research in this field. Indeed, the University of Naples "Federico II" has recently started an important collaboration with Lamieredil S.p.A. Company in order to investigate the seismic behaviour of strap-braced CFS systems through a series of shake-table tests, performed on two reduced-scale strap-braced structures. In addition, 3D numerical models were developed in OpenSees environment in order to simulate the dynamic/earthquake response of the whole structure, considering also the effect of the two different floor typologies. The present paper illustrates the main results of the shake-table testing and numerical modelling.