Structural Behavior of Intermediate Floor Frames Connected to Concrete Walls under Lateral Loading

Abstract

Higher modular steel frames require lateral resisting systems against wind and earthquake loading. Modular steel frame systems have provided one of alternatives for rapid constructions such as school buildings, hospitals, emergency shelters, and dorms in a short time. For ease of construction in field and the allowance of tolerance of connection fabrication one intermediate diaphragm floor subsystems are introduced between steel modular systems and concrete core walls. The load transfer between these two systems is made possible by satisfactory performance of diaphragm action with reliable structural connections among subsystems. Commonly used anchorage connection details using embed steel plates welded to reinforcing bars were prepared to investigate structural performance of load transfer between the floor frames and concrete core walls. Tensile and shear resistance of wall connections are supposed to control the strength of the subsystems. Tensile and shear failures between embed plates and reinforcing bars are expected as one of governing failure modes between two subsystems. The experimental program of cyclic behavior was performed to investigate the structural performance of the proposed subsystems subjected to wind and moderate earthquake loading which can be applied to construction of the medium height residential modular buildings near future. To intend favorable failure mechanisms in the load transfer between the subsystems, failure sequences and ductile failure modes must be controlled. The proposed load transfer subsystem provides one of alternative for facile construction methods for mixed type of modular systems and stable structural performance.