Distributed Loading System for Collaborative Seismic Performance Evaluation on Overall Buildings (Part 3) - Seismic Performance Evaluation on 5-Story Steel Buildings with Exposed Column-Bases-

In this study, a substructure online system for investigating the seismic responses of buildings is developed along with the loading system. In addition, we develop an interface between analysis and experiment that can easily connect with each other. This substructure online loading system (so-called distributed loading system) and the interface of CSA (collaborative structural analysis) forms a collaborative seismic performance evaluation system. This system enables collaboration among researchers by linking their programs and experimental systems through the Internet. Also we developed a new effective column- base (non-slip-type column-base) to improve seismic performance of a building frame. Hence, collaborative seismic performance evaluations using distributed loading system were carried out on 5-story-2-bay steel buildings with a non-slip-type exposed column-base, and the effectiveness and availability of a distributed loading system were investigated.The results obtained from those tests were drawn as follows: 1) A pseudo-dynamic test method using the presented distributed loading system can simulate the elasto-plastic response of a 5-story steel building under a strong earthquake. 2) The maximum base plate rotation response in a non-slip-type column-base was less than 10% of that in a conventional column-base under a severe earthquake. 3) A non-slip-type column base has high self-rehabilitation and its structural characteristics may not change after a severe earthquake.