Proposed Stiffener Spacing Requirements for the Seismic Design of Short Links in Eccentrically Braced Steel Frames
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 6
Abstract
Links in eccentrically braced frames (EBFs) are designed with transverse web stiffeners to achieve the desired seismic performance targets established in current design standards. Prior studies have suggested that stiffener spacing requirements in the standards may be conservative. This paper proposes new stiffener spacing design requirements for short EBF links. The proposed limits were established on the basis of a methodology that combines a numerical solution of the classical problem of inelastic plate buckling of a thick plate under shear thrusts along with comparisons with available experimental data. The resultant design equation was verified through complementary continuum finite-element simulations of 18 wide-flange short links under symmetric cyclic loading. The finite-element simulations suggested that the proposed design equation reduce the stiffener requirements by about 35%, on average, relative to the current stiffener spacing requirements for short EBF links. Limitations and suggestions of future work are discussed.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request, including the finite-element models used for validation and the finite-element models used in the parametric study section. Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available in a repository online in accordance with funder data retention policies, including the code used for the solution of inelastic plate buckling problem. The Jupyter Notebook code for the inelastic plate buckling problem can be publically accessed from https://github.com/NikolaosSkretas/pyInelasticPlateBuckling-pRitzMethod.
Acknowledgments
This work was partially supported by the Bodossakis Foundation through a scholarship granted to the first author. The authors thank Dr. Alexander Hartloper for his valuable help with the updated Voce-Chaboche (UVC) material model and Professor Taichiro Okazaki of Hokkaido University, Japan for providing part of the experimental data that are discussed in this paper.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 6 • June 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 13, 2022
Accepted: Oct 27, 2022
Published online: Mar 28, 2023
Published in print: Jun 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Aug 28, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Bracing
- Construction engineering
- Construction methods
- Earthquake engineering
- Engineering fundamentals
- Finite element method
- Frames
- Geotechnical engineering
- Methodology (by type)
- Numerical methods
- Plates
- Seismic design
- Seismic tests
- Spacing
- Steel frames
- Stiffening
- Structural behavior
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Tests (by type)
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