Earthquake resilient steel braced frames with controlled rocking and energy dissipating fuses

TLDR

The study introduces a seismic‑resistant steel braced‑frame system that uses controlled rocking, elastic post‑tensioning, and replaceable fuses, and seeks to develop design criteria for its practical implementation. The system confines inelastic energy dissipation to replaceable fuses while controlled rocking and elastic post‑tensioning provide self‑centering, and its well‑defined rocking mechanism simplifies analysis and design. Cyclic and shake‑table tests of large‑scale specimens show the system can withstand extreme earthquake shaking with story drift ratios up to 3 % without structural damage.

Abstract

Abstract A new type of seismic resistant structural steel braced‐frame system is introduced that employs controlled rocking, elastic post tensioning, and replaceable fuses to resist earthquake shaking with limited structural damage. Through the use of capacity design principles, inelastic energy dissipation is confined to replaceable fuses while the controlled rocking and elastic post tensioning provide self‐centering action to eliminate residual drift. Quasi‐static cyclic tests and dynamic shake table tests of large‐scale specimens confirm that the system can sustain extreme earthquake ground shaking with story drift ratios up to 3 % without structural damage. Owing to the well‐defined rocking mechanism, analysis and design of the system is straightforward. Work is ongoing to develop design criteria and guidelines to facilitate practical implementation of these system in building design and construction.