Seismic Capacity Quantification of Gusset-Plate Connections to Fracture for Ductility-Based Design
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 10
Abstract
This paper presents an experimental study on the seismic performance up to fracture of gusset-plate brace connections. During the inelastic behavior of a bracing member (e.g., buckling), weak-axis bending in the gusset is induced by brace-end rotation and a plastic hinge is formed in a predefined inelastic zone (clearance distance) of the gusset. Five gusset-plate connections that can develop restraint-free plastic rotations to accommodate the brace-end rotation demands are tested. The test parameters include the plate thickness, length of clearance distance, and several inelastic rotation demands. The connections are tested using an innovative substructure-based hybrid test method that simulates the complex boundary and load conditions that exist between the gusset-plate connections and brace member. The tests quantify the maximum rotation ductility and strength capacity of the gusset-plate connections under actual cyclic inelastic rotations and varying axial loading. The test results also provide a basis for developing a ductility-based design methodology that determines the rotation ductility of gusset-plate connections using the brace-end rotation demand at a given axial deformation capacity of the brace. A design application example demonstrates the necessity of considering explicitly in the seismic design of steel braced frames the gusset-plate fracture capacity.
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Acknowledgments
This work was partially supported by the Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) International Research Fellowship (Grant No. 15F15066). The authors are also grateful to Hironari Shimada and Tadahisa Takeda, graduate students of Kyoto University, for their valuable assistance.
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 144 • Issue 10 • October 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 15, 2017
Accepted: May 4, 2018
Published online: Aug 3, 2018
Published in print: Oct 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Jan 3, 2019
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