Abstract
<div>Steel plate devices are widely used for providing energy dissipation in earthquake resistant structures. The cyclic response of these steel plate fuses varies depending on different design factors related to the fuse link geometry or its material property. This research presents a numerical study on the cyclic response of steel plate fuses with butterfly-shaped and straight shear links. Finite element models are first developed and validated against past experimental studies. A sensitivity study using the design-of-experiment method is performed to statistically determine the effects of different design parameters on the cyclic response of steel plate shear links. Seven design factors related to the material or geometry of steel plate fuses are considered as input factors. The cyclic response of fuses is examined in terms of initial stiffness, yield strength, ultimate stiffness, effective damping, maximum strength, and ductility. From the results of the sensitivity analysis, it is shown that the overall cyclic behavior of steel plate fuses is most significantly influenced by the fuse link end-width and thickness while the fuse link length and mid-width are partially influential on some of the cyclic responses. In addition, an optimization study is performed to determine the optimal ranges for the design factors that result in simultaneous response optimization conditions, such as maximized energy dissipation capability and ductility. Predictive equations are also developed and validated for the cyclic response characteristics of steel plate shear links. Based on the confirmation runs, it is believed that these equations can accurately predict the acquired responses for steel plate fuse links.</div>
Highlights
1.1 Overview The conventional approach to seismic design is based on ductile behavior of structures
6.4.2 Results of Optimization Problem 2 The second optimization problem is used to identify the optimum ranges for the design space in terms of minimizing and maximizing the structural response variables, which include the minimization of yield strength; and maximization of the effective damping and ductility
6.4.3 Results of Optimization Problem 3 This problem is used to identify the optimum ranges of each design parameter that leads to achieving the goal of maximizing the initial stiffness, effective damping and ductility response characteristics
Summary
1.1 Overview The conventional approach to seismic design is based on ductile behavior of structures. Appropriate strength and inherent ductility of structures allow inelastic drift capacity and energy dissipation during severe seismic motions. Steel plates with engineered cuts can be implemented in the structures as the sacrificial ductile structural elements and replaceable fuses. The fuse term is referred to any element in which the damage caused by earthquake is concentrated on it, after every severe event of earthquake this element is replaced [1,2]. By confining the inelastic deformation and structural damage to steel plates with shear links, the primary structural elements like beams and columns remain essentially elastic and undamaged. One example of using structural steel plate fuses is in controlled rocking steel braced frames, which have been shown as promising self-centering systems that can minimize financial losses due to repair costs and downtime in structures under strong earthquakes [3]
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