ABSTRACT
The use of Lightweight Steel (LWS) systems made of Cold Formed Steel (CFS) profiles is wide spread for low-and medium-rise residential buildings in seismic areas all over the world. In order to increase structural and environmental performances and the production process, a new research project has been started at University of Naples “Federico II” in cooperation with Lamieredil S.p.A. Company. The main objective of the project is the development of a new lightweight system, consisting of CFS profiles equipped with anti-seismic devices, and the evaluation of its performances through series of experiments. The anti-seismic device mainly consists of pre-tensioned Ultra High Strength (UHS) steel brace, able to limit global displacement of structure, working as an elastic spring, which dissipates seismic energy by its yielding.
The experimental activity carried out at Lab of the Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture will include the tests on materials and assemblies, static and dynamic tests on main components and shake-table tests on a building specimen. Finally, a full-scale prototype building will be erected on company property, which would be tested and monitored to evaluate the real production/erection process and the thermal/environmental and structural behaviour of the new system. The current paper describes the research project in detail, the preliminary design and experimental program of the new system.
