Seismic Performance Experiment Involving One-Story, Two-Bay Self-control Energy Dissipation UPPC Frames under Low Cyclic Loads

This paper presents an experimental study of the behavior of three one-story, two-bay unbonded partially prestressed concrete (UPPC) frames, of which two frames are self-control energy dissipation UPPC frames. This study aims to use the self-control energy dissipation UPPC frame as a new frame, and its seismic performance is evaluated compared to that of existing UPPC frames. The new frame utilizes energy dissipation components to provide energy dissipation capabilities, which allow the frame to form a beam-hinge mechanism under earthquake actions. The influence of the prestress release percentage on the seismic performance of the UPPC frame is experimentally examined. The test results show that the new UPPC frame displays better ductility and energy dissipation capabilities as the prestress release percentage increases, but the lateral resistance is slightly weaker than that of a common UPPC frame. Overall, the new frame displays better seismic performance than the conventional UPPC frame and can be reused after retrofitting.