• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.357-374
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• 2014

The design basis is being shifted from strength to deformation in modern performance-based design codes. This paper presents a practical method for optimization of eccentrically braced steel frames, based on the concept of uniform deformation theory (UDT). This is done by gradually shifting inefficient material from strong parts of the structure to the weak areas until a state of uniform deformation is achieved. In the first part of this paper, UDT is implemented on 3, 5 and 10 story eccentrically braced frames (EBF) subjected to 12 earthquake records representing the design spectrum of ASCE/SEI 7-10. Subsequently, the optimum strength-distribution patterns corresponding to these excitations are determined, and compared with four other loading patterns. Since the optimized frames have uniform distribution of deformation, they undergo less damage in comparison with code-based designed structures while having minimum structural weight. For further investigation, the 10 story EBF is redesigned using four different loading patterns and subjected to 12 earthquake excitations. Then a comparison is made between link rotations of each model and those belonging to the optimized one which revealed that the optimized EBF behaves generally better than those designed by other loading patterns. Finally, efficiency of each loading pattern is evaluated and the best one is determined.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.441-453
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• 2017

In Y-shaped eccentrically braced frame fabricated with high strength steel (Y-HSS-EBF), link uses conventional steel while other structural members use high strength steel. Cyclic test for a 1:2 length scaled one-bay and one-story Y-HSS-EBF specimen and shake table test for a 1:2 length scaled three-story Y-HSS-EBF specimen were carried out to research the seismic performance of Y-HSS-EBF. These include the failure mode, load-bearing capacity, ductility, energy dissipation capacity, dynamic properties, acceleration responses, displacement responses, and dynamic strain responses. The test results indicated that the one-bay and one-story Y-HSS-EBF specimen had good load-bearing capacity and ductility capacity. The three-story specimen cumulative structural damage and deformation increased, while its stiffness decreased. There was no plastic deformation observed in the braces, beams, or columns in the three-story Y-HSS-EBF specimen, and there was no danger of collapse during the seismic loads. The designed shear link dissipated the energy via shear deformation during the seismic loads. When the specimen was fractured, the maximum link plastic rotation angle was higher than 0.08 rad for the shear link in AISC341-10. The Y-HSS-EBF is a safe dual system with reliable hysteretic behaviors and seismic performance.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.501-513
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• 2017

To investigate the seismic performance of Y-shaped eccentrically braced frames fabricated with high-strength steel (Y-HSS-EBFs), a shake table test of a 1:2 scaled three-story Y-HSS-EBF specimen was performed. The input wave for the shake table test was generated by the ground motions of El Centro, Taft, and Lanzhou waves. The dynamic properties, acceleration, displacement, and strain responses were obtained from the test specimen and compared with previous test results. In addition, a finite element model of the test specimen was established using the SAP2000 software. Results from the numerical analysis were compared with the test specimen results. During the shake table test, the specimen exhibited sufficient overall structural stiffness and safety but suffered some localized damage. The lateral stiffness of the structure degenerated during the high seismic intensity earthquake. The maximum elastic and elastoplastic interstory drift of the test specimen for different peak ground accelerations were 1/872 and 1/71, respectively. During the high seismic intensity earthquake, the links of the test specimen entered the plastic stage to dissipate the earthquake energy, while other structural members remained in the elastic stage. The Y-HSS-EBF is a safe, dual system with reliable seismic performance. The numerical analysis results were in useful agreement with the test results. This finding indicated that the finite element model in SAP2000 provided a very accurate prediction of the Y-HSS-EBF structure's behavior during the seismic loadings.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.715-732
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• 2020

High-strength steel composite Y-eccentrically braced frame (Y-HSS-EBF) is a novel structural system. In this study, the spatial substructure hybrid simulation test (SHST) method is used to further study the seismic performance of Y-HSS-EBF. Firstly, based on the cyclic loading tests of two single-story single-span Y-HSS-EBF planar specimens, a finite element model in OpenSees was verified to provide a reference for the numerical substructure analysis model for the later SHST. Then, the SHST was carried out on the OpenFresco test platform. A three-story spatial Y-HSS-EBF model was taken as the prototype, the top story was taken as the experimental substructure, and the remaining two stories were taken as the numerical substructure to be simulated in OpenSees. According to the test results, the validity of the SHST was verified, and the main seismic performance indexes of the SHST model were analyzed. The results show that, the SHST based on the OpenFresco platform has good stability and accuracy, and the results of the SHST agree well with the global numerical model of the structure. Under strong seismic action, the plastic deformation of Y-HSS-EBF mainly occurs in the shear link, and the beam, beam-columns and braces can basically remain in the elastic state, which is conducive to post-earthquake repair.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.123-138
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• 2018

Eccentrically braced frames (EBF) represent an optimal structural solution for seismic prone areas, being able to provide high dissipative capacity and good elastic stiffness, to withstand strong seismic events without significant loss of bearing capacity and to avoid damage to non-structural elements in case of low and moderate earthquakes. The accurate knowledge of the cyclic behaviour of the dissipative links, characterizing the whole performance of EBFs, is required to optimize the structural properties and to refine the design techniques adopted for multi-storey buildings' analysis. Reliable numerical models for the links, at the same time requiring a limited computational effort, are then needed. The present work shows the results of a wide experimental test campaign executed on real-scale one storey/one bay frames with horizontal and vertical links, together with the elaboration of a simple semi-analytical model for the quick representation of the cyclic behaviour of shear links.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.381-397
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• 2021

Based on the spatial substructure hybrid simulation test (SHST) method, the seismic performance of a high-strength steel composite K-eccentrically braced frame (K-HSS-EBF) structure system is studied. First, on the basis of the existing pseudostatic experiments, a numerical model corresponding to the experimental model was established using OpenSees, which mainly simulated the shear effect of the shear links. A three-story and five-span spatial K-HSS-EBF was taken as the prototype, and SHST was performed with a half-scale SHST model. According to the test results, the validity of the SHST model was verified, and the main seismic performance indexes of the experimental substructure under different seismic waves were studied. The results show that the hybrid simulation results are basically consistent with the numerical simulation results of the global structure. The deformation of each story is mainly concentrated in the web of the shear link owing to shear deformation. The maximum interstory drifts of the model structure during Strength Level Earthquake (SLE) and Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) meet the demands of interstory limitations in the Chinese seismic design code of buildings. In conclusion, the seismic response characteristics of the K-HSS-EBFs are successfully simulated using the spatial SHST, which shows that the K-HSS-EBFs have good seismic performance.

• 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.10 no.2
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• pp.367-388
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• 2016

Eccentrically braced frames (EBFs) represent an attractive lateral load resisting steel system to be used in areas of high seismicity. In order to assess the likely damage for a given intensity of ground shaking, fragility functions can be used to identify the probability of exceeding a certain damage limit-state, given a certain response of a structure. This paper focuses on developing a set of fragility functions for EBF structures, considering that damage can be directly linked to the interstorey drift demand at each storey. This is done by performing a Monte Carlo Simulation of an analytical expression for the drift capacity of an EBF, where each term of the expression relies on either experimental testing results or mechanics-based reasoning. The analysis provides a set of fragility functions that can be used for three damage limit-states: concrete slab repair, damage requiring heat straightening of the link and damage requiring link replacement. Depending on the level of detail known about the EBF structure, in terms of its link section size, link length and storey number within a structure, the resulting fragility function can be refined and its associated dispersion reduced. This is done by using an analytical expression to estimate the median value of interstorey drift, which can be used in conjunction with an informed assumption of dispersion, or alternatively by using a MATLAB based tool that calculates the median and dispersion for each damage limit-state for a given set of user specified inputs about the EBF. However, a set of general fragility functions is also provided to enable quick assessment of the seismic performance of EBF structures at a regional scale.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.171-188
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• 2021

Plastic deformation of link beams in eccentrically braced frames is the primary dissipating source of seismic energy. Despite the excellent compatibility with the architectural designs, previous researches indicate the deficiency of flexural yielding links compared to the shear yielding ones because of their localized plastic deformation. Previous investigations have shown that implementing web openings in beams could be an efficient method to improve the seismic performance of moment-resisting connections. Accordingly, this research investigates the use of flexural links with stiffened and un-stiffened web openings to eliminate localized plasticity at the ends of the link. For this purpose, the numerical models are generated in finite element software "Abaqus" and verified against experimental data gathered from other studies. Models are subjected to cyclic displacement history to evaluate their behavior. Failure of the numerical models under cyclic loading is simulated using a micromechanical based damage model known as Cyclic Void Growth Model (CVGM). The elastic stiffness and the strength-based and CVGM-based inelastic rotation capacity of the links are compared to evaluate the studied models' seismic response. The results of this investigation indicate that some of the flexural links with edge stiffened web openings show increased inelastic rotation capacity compared to an un-perforated link.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.183-198
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• 2022

Plastic deformation of link beams in eccentrically braced frames is the primary dissipating source of seismic energy. Despite the excellent compatibility with the architectural designs, previous researches indicate the deficiency of flexural yielding links compared to the shear yielding ones because of their localized plastic deformation. Previous investigations have shown that implementing web openings in beams could be an efficient method to improve the seismic performance of moment-resisting connections. Accordingly, this research investigates the use of flexural links with stiffened and un-stiffened web openings to eliminate localized plasticity at the ends of the link. For this purpose, the numerical models are generated in finite element software "Abaqus" and verified against experimental data gathered from other studies. Models are subjected to cyclic displacement history to evaluate their behavior. Failure of the numerical models under cyclic loading is simulated using a micromechanical based damage model known as Cyclic Void Growth Model (CVGM). The elastic stiffness and the strength-based and CVGM-based inelastic rotation capacity of the links are compared to evaluate the studied models' seismic response. The results of this investigation indicate that some of the flexural links with edge stiffened web openings show increased inelastic rotation capacity compared to an un-perforated link.