Experimental study on pure aluminium shear panels with different stiffener types

An experimental investigation aiming at evaluating the energy dissipation capacity of stiffened pure aluminium shear panels has been recently undertaken at the University of Naples. The use of pure aluminium represents an innovative proposal in the field of seismic engineering, it being justified by both low yield strength and high ductility, which are further improved through a proper material heat treatment. In particular, the results of four cyclic tests under shear forces are provided in the current paper. Tested specimens have in-plane dimensions 1500 × 1000 mm, witha thickness of 5 mm and are made of AW1050A alloy. Such a material is characterised by a high degree of purity and has been chosen for its very low yield strength (about 20 MPa after heat treatment), high hardening ratio (about 4) and large ductility (about 40%). The shear plates have been ribbed by means of both welded stiffeners and bolted steel channel profiles according to four different geometrical patterns characterized by different b/t slenderness ratios. Tested specimens pointed out a very high ductility and a good structural performance in terms of strength, stiffness and dissipative capacity, proving that the considered system can be usefully adopted as passive seismic protection device.