Experimental Investigation of the Seismic Behavior of a Multi-Story Steel Modular Building Using Shaking Table Tests
A steel modular building is a highly prefabricated form of steel construction. It offers rapid assembly, a high degree of industrialization, and an environmentally friendly construction site. To promote the application of multi-story steel modular buildings in earthquake fortification zones, it is i...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2661 |
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| author | Xinxin Zhang Yucong Nie Kehao Qian Xinyu Xie Mengyang Zhao Zhan Zhao Xiang Yuan Zheng |
| author_facet | Xinxin Zhang Yucong Nie Kehao Qian Xinyu Xie Mengyang Zhao Zhan Zhao Xiang Yuan Zheng |
| author_sort | Xinxin Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A steel modular building is a highly prefabricated form of steel construction. It offers rapid assembly, a high degree of industrialization, and an environmentally friendly construction site. To promote the application of multi-story steel modular buildings in earthquake fortification zones, it is imperative to conduct in-depth research on their seismic behavior. In this study, a seven-story modular steel building is investigated using shaking table tests. Three seismic waves (artificial ground motion, Tohoku wave, and Tianjin wave) are selected and scaled to four intensity levels (PGA = 0.035 g, 0.1 g, 0.22 g, 0.31 g). It is found that no residual deformation of the structure is observed after tests, and its stiffness degradation ratio is 7.65%. The largest strains observed during the tests are 540 × 10<sup>−6</sup> in beams, 1538 × 10<sup>−6</sup> in columns, and 669 × 10<sup>−6</sup> in joint regions, all remaining below a threshold value of 1690 × 10<sup>−6</sup>. Amplitudes and frequency characteristics of the acceleration responses are significantly affected by the characteristics of the seismic waves. However, the acceleration responses at higher floors are predominantly governed by the structure’s low-order modes (first-mode and second-mode), with the corresponding spectra containing only a single peak. When the predominant frequency of the input ground motion is close to the fundamental natural frequency of the modular steel structure, the acceleration responses will be significantly amplified. Overall, the structure demonstrates favorable seismic resistance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9db3d6f10e74f04bc3db10f3614b3ac |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-d9db3d6f10e74f04bc3db10f3614b3ac2025-08-20T03:36:31ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-07-011515266110.3390/buildings15152661Experimental Investigation of the Seismic Behavior of a Multi-Story Steel Modular Building Using Shaking Table TestsXinxin Zhang0Yucong Nie1Kehao Qian2Xinyu Xie3Mengyang Zhao4Zhan Zhao5Xiang Yuan Zheng6Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaShenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaShenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaShenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaShenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaShenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaShenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaA steel modular building is a highly prefabricated form of steel construction. It offers rapid assembly, a high degree of industrialization, and an environmentally friendly construction site. To promote the application of multi-story steel modular buildings in earthquake fortification zones, it is imperative to conduct in-depth research on their seismic behavior. In this study, a seven-story modular steel building is investigated using shaking table tests. Three seismic waves (artificial ground motion, Tohoku wave, and Tianjin wave) are selected and scaled to four intensity levels (PGA = 0.035 g, 0.1 g, 0.22 g, 0.31 g). It is found that no residual deformation of the structure is observed after tests, and its stiffness degradation ratio is 7.65%. The largest strains observed during the tests are 540 × 10<sup>−6</sup> in beams, 1538 × 10<sup>−6</sup> in columns, and 669 × 10<sup>−6</sup> in joint regions, all remaining below a threshold value of 1690 × 10<sup>−6</sup>. Amplitudes and frequency characteristics of the acceleration responses are significantly affected by the characteristics of the seismic waves. However, the acceleration responses at higher floors are predominantly governed by the structure’s low-order modes (first-mode and second-mode), with the corresponding spectra containing only a single peak. When the predominant frequency of the input ground motion is close to the fundamental natural frequency of the modular steel structure, the acceleration responses will be significantly amplified. Overall, the structure demonstrates favorable seismic resistance.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2661steel modular buildingsshaking table testseismic behavior |
| spellingShingle | Xinxin Zhang Yucong Nie Kehao Qian Xinyu Xie Mengyang Zhao Zhan Zhao Xiang Yuan Zheng Experimental Investigation of the Seismic Behavior of a Multi-Story Steel Modular Building Using Shaking Table Tests Buildings steel modular buildings shaking table test seismic behavior |
| title | Experimental Investigation of the Seismic Behavior of a Multi-Story Steel Modular Building Using Shaking Table Tests |
| title_full | Experimental Investigation of the Seismic Behavior of a Multi-Story Steel Modular Building Using Shaking Table Tests |
| title_fullStr | Experimental Investigation of the Seismic Behavior of a Multi-Story Steel Modular Building Using Shaking Table Tests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental Investigation of the Seismic Behavior of a Multi-Story Steel Modular Building Using Shaking Table Tests |
| title_short | Experimental Investigation of the Seismic Behavior of a Multi-Story Steel Modular Building Using Shaking Table Tests |
| title_sort | experimental investigation of the seismic behavior of a multi story steel modular building using shaking table tests |
| topic | steel modular buildings shaking table test seismic behavior |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2661 |
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