Characterization of an autoclaved aerated concrete building with respect to a similar unreinforced masonry structure

In the present work some characteristical features of autoclaved aerated concrete structures are illustrated in the seismic and nonseismic design for residential and industrial buildings. Besides the properties of this material with regards to fire resistance and thermal and acoustical insulation, the use of autoclaved aerated concrete for engineering structures may have the advantage of a confined structure with reinforced concrete bond elements that are disposed horizontally and vertically. In the present work the dynamical behavior of a building prototype realized with autoclaved aerated concrete is analyzed, a finite element modelling of the structure has been calibrated according to an experimental modal analysis carried by loading the structure with a vibrodyne located on top of the building and by monitoring the building outputs due to horizontal harmonic forces. The finite element modelling of the dynamical behavior of the autoclaved aerated concrete structure has been compared with a similar tuff masonry building whose characteristical behavior has already been the object of experimental and numerical analysis in a previous work.