Engineers Test Tallest Steel-Framed Building on Earthquake Simulator

A 10-story cold-formed steel (CFS) structure—the tallest of its kind ever tested—underwent earthquake simulation tests at UC San Diego’s outdoor Shake Table. The goal was to assess the seismic performance of mid-rise buildings constructed with lightweight steel.

The recently upgraded shake table, completed in 2022, can now simulate six degrees of freedom (three directional and three rotational movements) allowing for more realistic earthquake conditions.

Led by UC San Diego professor Tara Hutchinson, the CFS-10 project subjected the 100-foot building to 18 simulated quakes, including the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Despite forces exceeding standard code levels, the structure’s load-bearing system remained intact. Non-structural elements, such as staircases, also remained operational.

Typically limited to six stories under U.S. codes, cold-formed steel—made from 60–70% recycled content—is being evaluated for taller construction. The tests also revealed torsional behavior not seen in previous, less dynamic simulations.

Researchers are also planning to conduct live-fire experiments to assess post-earthquake fire performance. Led by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo professor Richard Emberley, the fire tests will evaluate fire and smoke movement through a quake-damaged structure.

The study is backed by the National Science Foundation, California agencies, and industry groups including the American Iron and Steel Institute and the Steel Framing Industry Association. Findings will help inform future design codes for cold-formed steel buildings in seismic regions.

Watch the following video to see how engineers put the full-scale steel-framed building through earthquake simulations, with footage from inside and outside the structure.