Preliminary Finite Element Analyses on the Experimental Mock-Up Frames of FREEDAM Research Project

Abstract

Recent research ventures focus on structural systems characterized either by low-damage or easily repairable solutions. In this context, moment resisting frames (MRFs) equipped with friction joints represent a viable option. Among the different types of friction beam-to-column connections, the arrangement with symmetric friction devices are very effective to provide stable and ductile friction hysteresis, thus reducing the damage in the structural members (beams and columns) to a minimum or even to zero. Numerical and experimental investigations on the beam-to-column assemblies within the RFCS FREEDAM project testify to the good seismic performance of the friction device when properly designed. However, within this research project full scale pseudo-dynamic tests will be performed for a better understanding of the influence of such joint on the overall structural behaviour of MRFs. In this paper the results of preliminary numerical simulations are presented to give the first insights on the response of the experimental mockup as well as to validate the accuracy of two software with largely different capabilities. Static pushover and nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed and the results for the benchmark structure (frame equipped with reduced beam section joint) and for the structure equipped with the friction devices are presented