Shake Table Tests on Infill Plasterboard Partitions

Shaking table tests are performed to investigate the seismic behaviour of plasterboard partitions. A steel test frame is properly designed in order to simulate the seismic effects at a generic building storey. The tests are performed shaking the table simultaneously in both horizontal directions. At this aim the accelerograms are selected matching the target response spectrum provided by the U.S. code for nonstructural components. To investigate a wide range of interstorey drift demand and seismic damage, the shakes are performed scaling the accelerograms at eight different intensity levels. The tested plasterboard partitions exhibit a good seismic behaviour, both in their own plane and out-of-plane, showing light damage up to 0.8% interstorey drift ratio and 2g top frame acceleration.

Finally, an interesting comparison of the dynamic characteristics, i.e. fundamental period and damping ratio, between the bare frame and the infilled structure is also performed using different methods.