Numerical modeling and interpretation of shaking table experiments on a reinforced concrete frame with energy-efficient coatings

This thesis examines the dynamic behavior of a reinforced concrete (RC) frame with masonry infill walls, equipped with a specially designed energy-efficient panel for RC buildings. The research combines full-scale shaking table tests at the ENEA Casaccia Research Center with numerical modeling. The specimen was subjected to increasing seismic intensities, and its response was monitored using accelerometers and a 3DVision motion capture system. Vibration-based methods (FRF, FFT, FDD) were applied to identify eigenfrequencies and mode shapes in both undamaged and damaged states. A three-dimensional SAP2000 model was developed, with RC members as frame elements and masonry infills as equivalent diagonal struts. Modal analysis showed good agreement with experimental results for translational modes. Parametric analyses calibrated the model by reducing column stiffness and masonry elastic modulus, replicating the stiffness degradation observed during stronger seismic excitations. Although based on linear-elastic assumptions, the model captured key trends and provided insight into infilled frame behavior. The results demonstrate that the integration of vibration-based identification techniques with calibrated numerical modeling offers a reliable framework for understanding and predicting the dynamic behavior of RC frames with masonry infills.