Seismic behaviour of prefabricated self-centring steel frames with different energy dissipation devices

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to obtain realistic and intuitive time-history seismic responses of three high-rise self-centring steel frames by performing contrast analyses. The prospective structural system of prefabricated self-cantering steel frame (PSCSF) has been proposed. The PSCSF reflects an evident advantage in controlling structural damage and eliminating residual deformation coupled with a great potential in terms of its applicability to high-rise buildings. However, negative effects were exerted on the generalization and application of PSCSF owing to the limit value in high intensity earthquake-prone areas not being satisfied. Based on PSCSF, a prefabricated self-centring steel frame with slit steel plate shear walls (PSCSF-SW) and a prefabricated self-cantering steel frame utilizing intermediate column dampers (PSCSF-IC) have been depicted. Several tests focusing on the nodes and portal frames regarding PSCSF, PSCSF-SW and PSCSF-IC already conducted were considered while presenting a new modelling approach in this paper, which was proven to be reliable in simulating portal frame of PSCSF-SW. Assuming that the results of numerical model showed high correlation with test results, three high-rise buildings of PSCSF, PSCSF-SW and PSCSF-IC were generated using finite element software ABAQUS. Consequently, modal and dynamic time-history analyses on three frames were performed to comparatively analyse the seismic performance under three ground motions with different peak ground accelerations. The derived PSCSF-SW and PSCSF-IC were found to reveal higher stiffness and more energy dissipation than the PSCSF. The outcome demonstrated that the setting of slit steel plate shear walls and intermediate column containing friction dampers resulted in reliable and feasible protection of the main components of high-rise self-centring buildings from being damaged and simultaneously resolved the problem of relatively large horizontal displacement of PSCSF being observed. Consequently, the PSCSF-SW and PSCSF-IC are expected to be competitive options for high-rise buildings. Because of the advantages of high-efficient assembly and replacement, the PSCSF-SW takes on more practicality and flexibility than PSCSF-IC.