The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performace of low- to medium-rise flat-slab buildings damaged during the Mexican earthquake of September 19, 1985, and to check the adequacy of U.S. procedures for the seismic design of similar buildings. Information on Mexican design and construction practive for slab-column connections is collected incooperation with the Mexican co-investigator. The strengths, stiffnesses, and design features of these connections are compared to those specified by U.S. building codes. Twelve large-scale multiple-connection and single-connection slab-column assemblies are designed according to the U.S. practice and tested in the laboratory to evaluate their performance into the nonlinear range of response under earthquake-type loading. The test assemblies include slabs with and without edge beams.
