Experimental evaluation of a sacrificial seismic fuse device for masonry infill walls

Presented herein are the details and results of an experimental study conducted to evaluate the performance of a proposed infill wall fuse system. The purpose of this system, referred to as the seismic infill wall isolator subframe (SIWIS) system, is to prevent damage to columns or infill walls due to infill-frame interaction through a "sacrificial" component or a "structural fuse." The SIWIS system conceptually consists of two vertical and one horizontal sandwiched light-gauge steel studs with SIWIS elements in the vertical members. The experimental study presented here involves the in-plane lateral load testing of a two-bay three-story steel frame in three forms of bare frame, infilled braced frame, and pinned frame equipped with the proposed SIWIS device. In addition, a brick wall in-plane strength test and a series of component tests on three different designs for fuse element were conducted. In the conducted tests, the suggested technique initially engages the infill walls in seismic resistance of the frame, but ultimately isolates them. It is concluded, thus, that the proposed fuse system has the potential for the development of an effective way to reduce earthquake damage in framed buildings with infill walls.