Hybrid simulation of steel frames with semi-rigid connections

Fully-welded connections for earthquake resistance of steel frames are costly and their performance is adversely affected by weld defects and low-cycle fatigue. An alternative to welded connections is the bolted top and seat angle connection. The latter configuration can be designed to exhibit moment capacities that are lower than both the connected beams and columns. Such ‘partial strength connections’ provide attractive seismic design features by alleviating the overstrength requirements that codes impose on column design, to ensure a weak beam-strong-column performance. Towards this end, an experimental program was initiated at the University of Illinois, as described below. Full-scale hybrid simulation of a semi-rigid steel frame is conducted and its ductility and drift ratios are studied. The experimental component of the simulation comprises a beam-column subassembly with top and seat angle with double web angle connection and is instrumented to measure moment-rotation characteristics, as well as strains on the individual angle plates and slip of bolts. The simulation setup and software is described in detail. Simulation results are presented including story drift and base shear time histories. In addition, the moment-rotation diagrams from the hybrid simulation and cyclic testing are presented. Finally, a phenomenological model based on the Bouc-Wen formulation is fitted to the moment-rotation data. The model is suitable for extensive parametric studies on the type of connection tested, to guide future large scale testing and to derive design guidance.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Bennier, David J.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Elnashai, Amr S.

• Hybrid simulation
• Bouc-Wen

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2009 David J. Bennier

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/14646

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/14646