Deformation mechanism analysis of steel artificial controllable plastic hinge in prefabricate frame

Abstract

The concept of structural recoverability has become a vital performance objective in structural seismic design. A novel performance-recoverable beam-column connection device, steel Artificial Controllable Plastic Hinge (ACPH), was proposed to achieve structural function restoration after earthquakes. The bending-shear decoupled prefabricated ACPH is composed of a pin-hinged connection bearing shear force, and two sets of replaceable energy dissipation plates providing flexural resistance. The weakening ratio effect of the energy dissipation plate on the ACPH seismic performance was experimentally explored by three specimens. The results indicated that the ACPH had excellent hysteresis behavior, as well as superior ductility. Moreover, the ACPH yield mode was the compression yield of the energy dissipation plate. The failure mode was the tearing failure in the weakened area of the energy dissipation plate. The pin-hinged connection was barely deformed throughout the working process, which guarantees the ACPH repairability and attains the goal of ACPH damage control. Besides, based on the component method, the deformation model and deformation calculation formula of ACPH were proposed, which considered the deformation effects of the bolt rod, the installation gap, the energy dissipation plate, the end plate of the energy dissipation, and the installation clearance of bolts. The formulas of ultimate moment bearing capacity for the ACPH were put forward based on the thin plate theory.