• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1167-1184
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• 2015

Despite considerable life casualty and financial loss resulting from past earthquakes, many existing steel buildings are still seismically vulnerable as they have no lateral resistance or at least need some sort of retrofitting. Passive control methods with decreasing seismic demand and increasing ductility reduce rate of vulnerability of structures against earthquakes. One of the most effective and practical passive control methods is to use a shear panel system working as a ductile fuse in the structure. The shear Panel System, SPS, is located vertically between apex of two chevron braces and the flange of the floor beam. Seismic energy is highly dissipated through shear yielding of shear panel web while other elements of the structure remain almost elastic. In this paper, lateral behavior and related benefits of this system with narrow-flange link beams is experimentally investigated in chevron braced simple steel frames. For this purpose, five specimens with IPE (narrow-flange I section) shear panels were examined. All of the specimens showed high ductility and dissipated almost all input energy imposed to the structure. For example, maximum SPS shear distortion of 0.128-0.156 rad, overall ductility of 5.3-7.2, response modification factor of 7.1-11.2, and finally maximum equivalent viscous damping ratio of 35.5-40.2% in the last loading cycle corresponding to an average damping ratio of 26.7-30.6% were obtained. It was also shown that the beam, columns and braces remained elastic as expected. Considering this fact, by just changing the probably damaged shear panel pieces after earthquake, the structure can still be continuously used as another benefit of this proposed retrofitting system without the need to change the floor beam.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.317-335
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• 2016

Concentrically braced steel frames (CBFs) can be optimised during the seismic design process by using lateral loading distributions derived from the concept of uniform damage distribution. However, it is not known how such structures are affected by uncertainties. This study aims to quantify and manage the effects of structural and ground-motion uncertainty on the seismic performance of optimum and conventionally designed CBFs. Extensive nonlinear dynamic analyses are performed on 5, 10 and 15-storey frames to investigate the effects of storey shear-strength and damping ratio uncertainties by using the Monte Carlo simulation method. For typical uncertainties in conventional steel frames, optimum design frames always exhibit considerably less inter-storey drift and cumulative damage compared to frames designed based on IBC-2012. However, it is noted that optimum structures are in general more sensitive to the random variation of storey shear-strength. It is shown that up to 50% variation in damping ratio does not affect the seismic performance of the optimum design frames compared to their code-based counterparts. Finally, the results indicate that the ground-motion uncertainty can be efficiently managed by optimizing CBFs based on the average of a set of synthetic earthquakes representing a design spectrum. Compared to code-based design structures, CBFs designed with the proposed average patterns exhibit up to 54% less maximum inter-storey drift and 73% less cumulative damage under design earthquakes. It is concluded that the optimisation procedure presented is reliable and should improve the seismic performance of CBFs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.13-29
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• 2012

This paper is an experimental study on the behavior of vertical shear link in normal (steel section with and without stiffener) and composite (steel section with concrete located at the area limited to web and flanges of the section) configurations. This study is mainly aimed to perceive failure mechanism, collect laboratory data, and consider the effect of number of transverse reinforcements on strength and ductility of composite vertical links. There have been four specimens selected for examining the effects of different details. The first specimen was an I section with no stiffener, the second composed of I section with stiffeners provided according to AISC 2005. The third and fourth specimens were composed of I sections with reinforced concrete located at the area between its flanges and web. The tests carried out were of quasi-static type and conducted on full scale specimens. Experimental findings show remarkable increase in shear capacity and ductility of the composite links as compared to the normal specimens.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.383-392
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• 2019

Passive steel dampers have shown favorable performance in last earthquakes, numerical and experimental studies. Although steel dampers are more affordable than other types of damper, they are not economically justified for ordinary buildings. Therefore, in this paper, an innovative steel damper with shear yielding mechanism is introduced, which is easy to fabricate also can be easily replaced after sever earthquakes. The main goal of implementing such a mechanism is to control the possible damage in the damper and to ensure the elastic behavior of other structural components. The numerical results indicate an enhancement of the hysteretic behavior of the concentrically braced frames utilizing the proposed damper. The proposed damper change brittle behavior of brace due to buckling to ductile behavior due to shear yielding in proposed damper. The necessary relations for the design of this damper have been presented. In addition, a model has been presented to estimate load-displacement of the damper without needing to finite element modeling.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.417-433
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• 2023

The maximum ductility and cumulative ductility of connection joints of Buckling-Restrained Braced Frames (BRBF) are critical to the structural overall performance, which should be matched with the BRB ductility. The two-story and one-span BRBF with a one-third scale was tested under cyclic quasi-static loading, and the top-flange beam splice (TFBS) rotational connections were proposed and adopted in BRBF. The deformation capacity of TFBS connections was observed during the test, and the relationship between structural global ductility and local connection ductility was studied. The rotational capacity of the beam-column connections and the stability performance of the BRBs are highly relevant to the structural overall performance. The hysteretic curves of BRBF are stable and full under large displacement demand imposed up to 2% story drift, and energy is dissipated as the large plastic deformation developed in the structural components. The BRBs acted as fuses and yielded first, and the cumulative plastic ductility (CPD) of BRBs is 972.6 of the second floor and 439.7 of the first floor, indicating the excellent energy dissipation capacity of BRBs. Structural members with good local ductility ensure the large global ductility of BRBF. The ductile capacity and hysteretic behavior of BRBF with TFBS connections were compared with those of BRBF with Reduced Beam Section (RBS) connections in terms of the experimental results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.89 no.3
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• pp.239-252
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• 2024

Steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) are classified as lateral load-resisting systems. The feasibility of openings in the steel plate is a characteristic of SPSWs. The use of openings in SPSWs can lower the load capacity, stiffness, and energy dissipation. This study proposes a novel form of SPSWs that provides convenient access through openings by combining steel plates and eccentrically braced frames (EBFs). The proposed system also avoids a substantial reduction in the strength and stiffness. Hence, various geometric forms were analyzed through two different structural approaches. Groups 1, 2, and 3 included a steel EBF with a steel plate between the column and EBF in order to improve system performance. In Group 4, the proposed system was evaluated within an SPSW with openings and an EBF on the opening edge. To evaluate the performance of the proposed systems, the nonlinear finite element method (NL-FEM) was employed under cyclic loading. The hysteresis (load-drift) curve, stress contour, stiffness, and damping were evaluated as the structural outputs. The numerical models indicated that local buckling within the middle plate-EBF connection prevented a diagonal tension field. Moreover, in group 4, the EBF and stiffeners on the opening edge enhanced the structural response by approximately 7.5% in comparison with the base SPSW system.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.303-313
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• 2020

Spacious experimental and numerical investigation has been conducted by researchers to increase the ductility and energy dissipation of concentrically braced frames. One of the most widely used strategies for increasing ductility and energy dissiption, is the use of energy-absorbing systems. In this regard, the cyclic behavior of a chevron bracing frame system equipped with multi-pipe dampers (CBF-MPD) was investigated through finite element method. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and improve the behavior of the CBF using MPDs. Three-dimensional models of the chevron brace frame were developed via nonlinear finite element method using ABAQUS software. Finite element models included the chevron brace frame and the chevron brace frame equipped with multi-pipe dampers. The chevron brace frame model was selected as the base model for comparing and evaluating the effects of multi-tube dampers. Finite element models were then analyzed under cyclic loading and nonlinear static methods. Validation of the results of the finite element method was performed against the test results. In parametric studies, the influence of the diameter parameter to the thickness (D/t) ratio of the pipe dampers was investigated. The results indicated that the shear capacity of the pipe damper has a significant influence on determining the bracing behavior. Also, the results show that the corresponding displacement with the maximum force in the CBF-MPD compared to the CBF, increased by an average of 2.72 equal. Also, the proper choice for the dimensions of the pipe dampers increased the ductility and energy absorption of the chevron brace frame.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2014

This paper presents the determination of the structural system of the Changsha IFC T1 tower with 452 m in architectural height and 440.45 m in structural height. Sensitivity analyses are carried out by varying the location of belt trusses and outriggers. The enhancement of seismic capacity of the outer frame by reasonably adjusting the column size is confirmed based on parametric studies. The results from construction simulation including the non-load effect of structures demonstrate that the deformation of vertical members has little effect on the load-bearing capacity of belt trusses and outriggers. The elastoplastic time-history analysis shows that the overall structure under rare earthquake load remains in an elastic state. The influence of the frame shear ratio and frame overturning moment ratio on the proposed model and equivalent mega column model is investigated. It is found that the frame overturning moment ratio is more applicable for judging the resistance of the outer frame against lateral loads. Comparison is made on the variation of these two effects between a classical frame-core tube-outrigger structure and a structure with diagonal braces between super columns under rare earthquakes. The results indicate that plasticity development of the top core cube of the braced structure may be significantly improved.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.875-888
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• 2013

The researches have recently progressed toward the use of the superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) to develop new smart control systems that reduce permanent deformation occurring due to severe earthquake events and that automatically recover original configuration. The superelastic SMA materials are unique metallic alloys that can return to undeformed shape without additional heat treatments only after the removal of applied loads. Once the superelastic SMA materials are thus installed at the place where large deformations are likely to intensively occur, the structural system can make the best use of recentering capabilities. Therefore, this study is intended to propose new buckling-restrained braced frames (BRBFs) with superelastic SMA bracing systems. In order to verify the performance of such bracing systems, 6-story braced frame buildings were designed in accordance with the current design specifications and then nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed at 2D frame model by using seismic hazard ground motions. Based on the analysis results, BRBFs with innovative SMA bracing systems are compared to those with conventional steel bracing systems in terms of peak and residual inter-story drifts. Finally, the analysis results show that new SMA bracing systems are very effective to reduce the residual inter-story drifts.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.7 no.2 s.24
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• pp.35-44
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• 2007

The characteristics of elasto-plastic responses of a gymnasium building which is a steel braced frame with membrane roof is discussed as a basic research on the performance based seismic design of large span structures, in this paper. Under the strong earthquake motions, the formation of plastic hinges on braces attached by the bottom frame make reduce down the stresses and displacements of upper structures, and vertical acceleration of the membrane is tend to increase but maximum response of strain and corresponding stresses are tend to be reduced.