An experimental study on the effect of frame-to-wall connection type on the seismic behavior of steel frames infilled with autoclave-cured aerated concrete blocks

In this article, in order to find some reliable connection types for avoiding the infill failure, an experimental study is conducted on six half-scale single-story single-bay specimens, including one bare frame and five steel frames with autoclave-cured aerated concrete walls, each having different frame-to-wall connection types. Polyurethane adhesive was used in bed joints of the autoclave-cured aerated concrete walls as a mortar. The specimens were tested under displacement-controlled loading to examine their effect on the in-plane behavior of steel frames. The results suggested that V- and T-shaped connectors can be used as prequalified connectors between the wall and the frame. In specimens with these connectors, the interaction between infill and frame was ignorable and the infill remained intact up to life safety performance level (2.5% drift ratio). Furthermore, the application of these connectors resulted in a two-level performance of the infill whereby the frame stiffness degradation and strength deterioration after the drift ratio of 2.5% was compensated.