Triaxial shake table testing of an integrated low‐damage building system

Lessons from recent earthquakes have provided a tough reality check of the traditional seismic design approach and technologies, highlighting urgent need for paradigm shift performance-based criteria objectives toward low-damage philosophy technologies whole building system. Modern society is asking “earthquake proof” resilient buildings that are able to withstand events without compromising their functionality. The EU-funded SERA (Seismology Earthquake Engineering Research Infrastructure Alliance Europe Project) project discussed in this paper opportunity develop validate within European context an integrated prototype, including main structure non-structural elements, next generation high-performance buildings. This presents overview research, involving three-dimensional shake table tests two-storey 1:2 scaled timber-concrete post-tensioned dissipative “dressed” by earthquake-resistant gypsum/masonry partitions glass/concrete facades. Specimen details, construction assembly phases, test setup, experimental results discussed. After many cycles input motions at increasing levels intensity (higher than Collapse Prevention Limit State), system exhibited very high performance. campaign carried out National Laboratory Civil Lisbon confirmed unique potential widespread implementation into practice.