High-strength steel on dissipative elements in seismic resistant systems: Tests and simulations

Abstract

Seismic resistant steel structures have been designed for years in consideration of the material's ductility and toughness as important factors determining its performance under cyclic loading. Until recently, these properties were attributed to carbon steel, a perception that is now reviewed in light of recent technological advances that led to the development of high-strength steel (HSS) with enhanced properties. In this paper, the cyclic response of innovative seismic resistant FUSEIS systems with dissipative links of conventional carbon steel (S355) and HSS (S500, S700) is investigated. Eight large-scale tests conducted in the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) are presented and their results are discussed.Overall, the system with beam links underwent cyclic loading up to ±3.5% drift while exhibiting less than 20% load degradation. At these deformations, the system with pins had developed catenary action and thus suffered minor load degradation despite of extensive cracking. Comparison with previous research on FUSEIS with links of S235 steel indicates that the increase in yield strength leads to respective decrease in ductility. The numerical simulation of the tests is outlined, incorporating a user defined hybrid material model for plasticity and damage. In most cases, damage initiation in the models was well predicted.