To achieve these objectives, the following experimental tasks are proposed as described below.

Component and Subsystem Experiments: Component and subsystem experiments will be undertaken at the UB-NEES Site using: (i) the Nonstructural Components Simulator (NCS) anchored to the strong floor simulating full-scale horizontal floor motions; (ii) the NCS mounted on one of the two UB-NEES shake tables simulating full scale floor horizontal and vertical floor motions, and, (iii) the two UB-NEES shake tables for simulating horizontal and vertical excitations on selected large lay-in ceiling subsystems.

The objectives of these experiments are to: (i) establish experimental fragility curves for different components and subsystem configurations; (ii) provide data sets for the development of numerical models of the subsystems; and, (iii) provide input for the design and execution of the system experiments.

System Experiments: System experiments will be undertaken at the UNR-NEES site by using the three high performance shake tables simultaneously. Ceiling-piping-partition nonstructural systems consist of several components and subsystems, have complex three-dimensional geometric configurations, and complicated boundary conditions, since they are attached to several points of the main structure and are spread over large areas.

Therefore, it is necessary to conduct full-scale experiments of multi-component systems with complex geometries and realistic boundary conditions, subjected to intense earthquake shaking with the strategic objectives to fully understand (i) the system-level response and failure mechanisms of these systems; (ii) the interaction of their components; and (iii) the impact of the structural response of the nonlinear structural system on the response of the nonstructural systems. The UNR-NEES Site provides the unique opportunity to meet these objectives.

Development of Protective Technologies: Protective technologies, including isolation and damping devices, have been employed to protect structural framing systems from earthquake effects for more than 15 years but have seen limited use in the types of nonstructural components and systems considered in this project. Protective devices are typically connected to the structural elements of the building and are designed to dissipate a portion of the seismic input energy but do not necessarily guarantee that the response of nonstructural components is properly controlled. The application of smaller protective devices to be connected directly between the nonstructural and structural components to damp their vibrations during earthquakes will be investigated.

For piping systems, these protective devices can take the form of fluid viscous, viscoelastic, shape-memory-alloy and wire-rope bracing struts. For partition walls, innovative sheathing-to-framing connection systems, such as replacing rigid drywall screws by viscoelastic adhesives applied vertically along the studs in order to reduce damage during racking of gypsum wallboards (if found to be of significance for the systems investigated) will also be considered (Dinehart et al. 2006). The protective systems selected for testing will be based on their potential for improving seismic performance as well as on the economic feasibility of their implementation based on input from the Advisory Board and from the results obtained from the economic studies on Index Buildings.