Experimental Validation of Replaceable Shear Links for Eccentrically Braced Steel Frames
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 10
Abstract
In the current design of steel eccentrically braced frames (EBFs), the yielding link is coupled with the floor beam. This often results in oversized link elements, which leads to overdesigned structures and foundations. In addition, the beams are expected to sustain significant damage through repeated inelastic deformations under design-level earthquakes, and thus the structure may require extensive repair or replacement. These drawbacks can be mitigated by designing EBFs with replaceable shear links. Two different replaceable link types with alternate section profiles, connection configurations, welding details, and intermediate stiffener spacings were tested. A total of 13 cyclic quasi-static full-scale cyclic tests were performed, including tests on EBFs with replaceable shear links, to study their inelastic seismic performance. The links exhibited a very good ductile behavior, developing stable and repeatable yielding. Additional inelastic rotation capacity can be achieved with bolted replaceable links when bolt bearing deformations are allowed to occur. The on-site replaceability of the link sections is confirmed even in the presence of residual deformations of 0.5% drift.
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Acknowledgments
Financial support for this study was provided by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)NSERC under the Collaborative Research and Development Grant Program, the Steel Structures Education Foundation (SSEF), and the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC). Test specimens were fabricated and donated by Walters Inc., Hamilton, Ontario, ADF Group Inc., Terrebonne, Quebec, and Constructions Beauce-Atlas, Quebec, Canada. This in-kind support is kindly appreciated and gratefully acknowledged. The authors also express their appreciation to the technical staff of the Structural Testing Facility at the University of Toronto and the Hydro-Quebec Structures Laboratories at École Polytechnique in Montreal for their invaluable assistance in the test program.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 10 • October 2011
Pages: 1141 - 1152
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 18, 2010
Accepted: Nov 30, 2010
Published online: Sep 15, 2011
Published in print: Oct 1, 2011
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