From Structural Innovation to Seismic Interaction Effects: Two Ongoing Research Projects

This talk presents two recent research projects exploring how both innovative structural solutions and non-structural design choices influence the seismic behaviour of buildings. The first part focuses on load-bearing perforated clay masonry walls, commonly used in residential buildings due to their efficiency and low weight, but often equipped with acoustic isolation layers (rubber interlayers) to improve sound insulation. Although not intended for seismic purposes, these flexible layers significantly modify the stiffness and dynamic response of the walls, potentially acting as partial seismic isolation and shifting failure mechanisms from brittle shear to rocking. Results from recent cyclic experimental tests will be presented to illustrate these effects. The second part introduces an innovative hybrid coupled shear wall system developed within the European HYCAD project. The system combines a reinforced concrete wall with external steel columns connected through replaceable steel coupling links, allowing forces and deformations to be redistributed efficiently during earthquakes. Experimental results at different scales show that this solution provides high lateral stiffness under low-intensity earthquakes and controlled ductile behaviour under stronger events, with damage concentrated in repairable steel components. Together, these studies contribute to more resilient and repairable seismic design strategies.