Experimental Study on Seismic Behavior of K-type Eccentrically Braced Steel Frame with Semi-rigid Joints

Abstract

In order to study how different connection types and floor height affect the seismic behavior of eccentrically braced steel frame, there has been processing 4 pseudo-static tests for eccentrically-braced steel frame, including two one-layer specimen and two three-layer specimen. The seismic behavior of the specimen has been analyzed according to hysteresis curve, carrying capacity, stiffness degeneration, ductility, and energy dissipation ability etc. The experiments' results show that the connection types have greater impact on seismic behavior, adopting specimen destruction model of high-strength bolts connection as beam segment end-plate weld or web fracture. The rest of components do not appear significant yielding deformation and crack, which caters for post-earthquake restoration and replacement of energy dissipation beam segment. The carrying capacity of high-strength bolts connection specimen is slightly lower than welded connection specimen, but the ductility of the former is far beyond the welded specimen. Because of the slippage between components, hysteresis curves of bolts-connected eccentric braced steel frame structure appear to have pinned phenomenon with various degrees.