Concept, Design and Construction of an Aluminium Alloy Housing Prototype in Seismic Zone

The historical development of aluminium alloys in Structural Engineering was neglected until the 1970s due to the lack of technical regulations. Since then, there was a significant progress, particularly with the introduction of European recommendations and standards, such as Eurocode 9 and Eurocode 8, which cover the design of aluminium alloy structures and seismic-resistant buildings. The paper presents the construction of the first residential building in Europe with a seismic-resistant structure entirely made of aluminium alloy. It describes a prefabricated system designed specifically for this purpose, utilizing extrusion profiles for the gravity-resistant system and aluminium alloy shear walls for seismic resistance. The manuscript details the concept, structural design, and construction phases, showcasing the potential of aluminium alloys as a viable alternative to steel in building earthquake-resistant structures.