Seismic response of high strength steel frames equipped with energy dissipation bays subjected to seismic sequences

Abstract

Most of the seismic codes currently used are based on isolated earthquakes, whereas most earthquakes are seismic sequences acting repeatedly. In contrast to isolated earthquake scenarios, seismic sequences involve a series of seismic events, including a mainshock followed by aftershocks, suggesting that seismic sequences can reflect the structural damage accurately. This paper investigated the seismic performance of steel moment-resisting frames equipped with energy dissipation bays (EDBs) subjected to seismic sequences. It was demonstrated that the EDBs perform well in protecting main frames from isolated earthquakes of a certain magnitude, and the seismic sequences did not worsen the main frames' plastic damage. However, when the magnitude exceeded a certain threshold, the EDBs began to lose some of their protective capabilities, and the main frames' plastic damage from seismic sequences significantly increased. For the high strength steel frames equipped with EDBs, an approach that is more appropriate for estimating the residual damage of main frames in finite elements was suggested. The comparison results demonstrated the method's improved accuracy.