Structural Performance of Reinforced Concrete Frames with Lightweight Steel Wall Panels
16th International Congress on Advances in Civil Engineering, Trabzon, Türkiye, 12 - 14 Ekim 2026, ss.238-244, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: Trabzon
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.238-244
- Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study investigates the effect of prefabricated lightweight steel wall panel systems designed as an alternative to traditional masonry infill walls to enhance the seismic performance of reinforced concrete frames. Conventional brick infill walls significantly increase seismic mass to the structure and cause substantial environmental post-earthquake waste. In contrast, the proposed lightweight steel panel systems are considerably lighter than traditional infill walls that offer a sustainable and innovative solution with fully recyclable nature. Within the scope of the research, a comprehensive experimental program was conducted on a total of four specimens, including a reference frame, brick infilled frame, and frames with lightweight steel wall panels, under constant axial load and quasi-static cyclic lateral loading. The results demonstrate that the integration of lightweight steel walls significantly increases frame strength, exhibits stable cyclic behavior, and provides a ductile structural response. Unlike traditional masonry infills, lightweight steel walls provide a controllable seismic behavior by preventing sudden and brittle failures occurring at low drift levels. Consequently, it has been determined that lightweight steel walls are an eco-friendly infill solution that minimizes structural weight, limits brittle damage mechanisms, and can be safely implemented in seismically prone regions.