Evaluation of the Adequacy of Design Specifications for Nonstructural Components in a Reticular Structure

ABSTRACT Nonstructural components (NSCs) installed in large‐span reticular structures were frequently severely damaged during earthquakes, even when the primary structure remained intact. Existing seismic design specifications for NSCs were predominantly developed for upright structures such as multi‐storey buildings and offer no guidance for reticular structures. The aims of this study are to evaluate the applicability of current design specifications for acceleration‐ and displacement‐sensitive NSCs through a series of shake table tests on a 1:6 scaled model. To address inevitable experimental idealisations and to assess the generalisability of the observed phenomena, time‐history analyses of full‐scale finite‐element models were performed, considering simultaneous three‐component ground motions and additional geometric curvatures. The results show that horizontal ground excitation can cause pronounced overall structural deformation with simultaneous horizontal and vertical responses due to the curvature of reticular structures, resulting in spatially varying vertical accelerations at NSC supports. The deformation also causes substantial support rotations, which play a significant role in the behaviour of multiply supported NSCs and can lead to significant overestimation of internal forces if rotations are neglected. These findings suggest that current design specifications are not directly applicable to reticular structures, and that revisions are needed to incorporate vertical acceleration and support rotation.