Uncertainties of a light RC specimen construction for shaking table test

Abstract One of the first goals of earthquake protection is reducing the building weight. Less weight means less inertial forces and so less seismic energy for the structure to deal with. On the other hand, constructions of the future should reduce their environmental impact as much as possible. During almost 2 years a shaking table test at CEA Paris was planned. Financial support was offered by the Engineering Research Infrastructures for European Synergies (ERIES) program. Tests took place end of October 2024 on the AZALÉE shaking table. The specimen was a two stories structure having two spans in both main directions and a square plan shape. It was built almost entirely out of lightweight materials: lightweight concrete for slabs and beams and autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) exterior and partition walls. Only the columns were built out of normal weight concrete. Multipurpose AAC blocks were used, joining thermal insulation properties, formwork for circular end columns and structural behavior. Several uncertainties were encountered during the specimen building stage and the establishment of the structural model. These uncertainties are presented and discussed in this paper.