Lightweight Steel Constructions for Seismic Areas

Abstract

Lightweight steel constructions are one of the innovative constructional systems steadily increasing in spread due to their huge benefits in respect to more traditional constructional systems. Typical lightweight steel products, usually combined with gypsum, wood and cement based panels, can be used to build both structural and nonstructural systems. After a brief description of the most common lightweight steel constructional systems, this paper describes the state of the art by focusing the attention on their behaviour under seismic actions. In particular, the main past and ongoing research themes are briefly summarised and a critical comparison among seismic codes available in North America, Europe and Oceania is presented. Finally, an overview of studies carried out on this topic at the University of Naples Federico II is presented and latest research activities involving the seismic performance assessment of both lightweight steel structural and nonstructural architectonic systems though shake-table tests is provided.