Investigation of Infill Panels Made from Engineered Cementitious Composites for Seismic Strengthening and Retrofit

Abstract

An infill system for frame structures has been developed as a retrofit strategy for critical facilities. The system uses precast panels made with an engineered cementitious composite (ECC) material in lieu of a traditional reinforced concrete or masonry. The ECC material is advantageous due to the increased tensile strain capacity and compressive toughness of the material relative to traditional materials. Finite element simulations were performed to identify promising infill geometries. A series of structural scale tests was developed from the simulation results. The results from a series of single panel tests are presented. Testing results indicated that different levels of panel strength and stiffness can be achieved by varying the mix design of the ECC material and the amount of reinforcement in the panels. The panel test results combined with the simulation results demonstrate the potential of the infill system as a retrofit.