Response of Exterior Precast Concrete Cladding Panels in NEES-TIPS/NEESGC/ E-Defense Tests on a Full Scale 5-Story Building

Two full-scale precast concrete cladding panels were tested in 2011 on a full-scale five-story steel fame building at the E~Defense shake table facility in Japan. The panels were designed according to common U.S. practice. Two issues evaluated were: 1) the effect of acceleration on the cladding panel, and 2) the effectiveness of the current slotted-bolt sliding connection to allow for inter-story earthquake motion. The cladding tests represented one type of standard US cladding façade design where cladding is designed to accommodate inter-story drift though racking of individual panels. Panels were cast in Japan but steel connections were designed and fabricated in the US to accurately simulate the behavior of American cladding construction. A 50 mm vertical seismic joint was installed between the two panels. Two full-height column cover panels were tested, a return cover 3D shape, and a flat panel. Instrumentation measured the acceleration of the panels and the movement of the slotted connections. Findings include the ability of slotted connections to slide while being accelerated in a full scale 3D seismic motion and development of fragility curves relating damage to panel and/or floor acceleration.