Finite Element Analysis of the Seismic Behaviors on Web-Bolted Connected of Replaceable Shear Links for Eccentrically Braced Steel Frame

Abstract

In the current design of the traditional eccentrically braced steel frame systems, the link is a portion of the floor beam. The link damages because of absorbing energy firstly during an earthquake, therefore, the ability to repair the floor beam is very different, disruptive and costly and may affect the normal use of buildings because of the long repairing time. In addition, it is difficult to assess the extent of its damage, so we don't know whether the structure can survive under another earthquake. To solve these drawbacks, on the basis of this traditional eccentrically braced steel frame, the paper proposed a concept of the replaceable shear link which consisting of two channel sections bolted on either side of the web of the connecting floor beam (which called the new replaceable shear link thereinafter). The advantages and working mechanism of the new replaceable shear link were introduced in this paper, energy dissipations of the replaceable shear link and hysteretic behaviors of the eccentrically braced steel frame with replaceable shear links were analyzed under the cyclic loading by the finite element analysis software of ABAQUS. From the results of the analysis we can see, the new replaceable shear link has good seismic performance and deformation performance.