ABSTRACT
Abstract The aim of this paper is to deepen the current position regarding testing structural elements, sub-structures and structures, for the purpose of assessing their resistance to seismic action. The goal is not to trace the state of the art of all relevant contributions on this matter; rather, it is to appreciate the present status of the subject in order to discuss some of the more common experimental procedures in the study of cyclic structural behaviour. The paper describes the planning of test processes on structural elements, with particular reference to the steel ones, based on the needs of the researchers and of the designers. Moreover, a discussion is presented on the scope of each experimental procedures to link the type of tests with a specific goal in seismic research. Keywords: Experimental procedures, Cyclic behaviour, Earthquake engineering.
