Results of pseudo-static tests with cyclic horizontal load on H-shaped substructure composed of concrete/polystyrene sandwich bearing panels without openings

In recent years, the seismic behaviour of traditional reinforced concrete bearing squat walls structures has been the object of some research works. This paper presents the results of a pseudo-static test with cyclic horizontal load performed upon 6 meter tall H shaped substructure (representative of a two-story building portion) realized with non-traditional lightly reinforced concrete/polystyrene sandwich bearing squat walls. Such test was performed in the contest of a wide experimental campaign carried out as a joint effort between the University of Bologna and the EUCENTRE labs in Pavia and developed in order to comprehend the actual seismic behaviour of structures (cellular structures) composed of sandwich bearing squat walls, realized following a new construction system which was already widely used and appreciated for construction in non seismic areas or in areas of low seismicity. Such construction system is based on the possibility of combining structural requirements and the need for heat insulation with the use of a lightweight prefabricated (modular) panel composed of a sheet of structural expanded inserted between two grids of galvanized and electrowelded steel wire completed, in situ, by spraying concrete to form a structure composed of lightly reinforced concrete/polystyrene sandwich bearing squat walls.