Full-Scale Cyclic Testing of Self-Centering Modular Panels for Seismic Resilient Structures

This paper presents a new seismic load-resisting system termed self-centering modular panel (SCMP) which provides lateral stiffness and self-centering stiffness for tension-only concentrically braced beam-through frames (TOCBBTFs). The SCMP is a posttensioned (PT) steel moment resisting frame, which consists of horizontal boundary elements (HBEs), vertical boundary elements (VBEs) and PT strands. The self-centering stiffness is provided by the PT HBE-to-VBE connections. Specimens of original TOCBBTF and TOCBBTF with SCMP were tested to investigate the function of the SCMP. The test results show that compared to the original TOCBBTF, the TOCBBTF with SCMP was capable of recentering after 4% drift of loading. Moreover, after severe cyclic loading and replacement of the damaged bracings, the repaired TOCBBTF with SCMP exhibited almost identical stiffness, strength and recentering ability to that of the original system.