In the last decade, the substructure method has been introduced into the pseudo dynamic testing method. This method is effective to evaluate such as the performance of seismic energy absorbing devices, because it is clear to select a tested part of the object. In many cases, damages are distributed to not only some limited zone of the structure but also many structural elements. In these cases, how can be applied this testing method? In this paper, some of the issues for its application are solved. For this purpose, the test structure is chosen as the six-story steel moment-resisting frame building with one span, which would be expected to collapse with plastic hinges at beam ends. Damages are mainly concentrated to the lower stories, whereas the upper stories yield also slightly under severe earthquakes. The tested part is the lower three stories of the structure, which is a 2/3 scaled-model of the real size. Two tests are continuously implemented using different levels of the scaled wave of Kobe Earthquake 1995. The boundary condition at the top of the specimen is verified to give sufficient results by the elastic loading test and the simulation analysis. The computed part of the structure is kept in elasticity during the response loading test, whereas it would be expected to yield a little according to the pre-analysis. But, at the same time, the analytical results show that the assumption in the computation of the upper three stories would be reasonable in the case of this structure. The elastic-plastic response of the test structure against severe earthquakes is verified by the substructure pseudo dynamic testing method.
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