Self-centering multiple rocking core systems for mitigating higher mode effects

Abstract

The structural member forces of mid-story and high-rise self-centering energy-absorbing dual rocking core (SEDRC) systems can be significantly aggravated by higher mode effects. This study aims to introduce the multiple rocking mechanisms into the SEDRC system and propose the self-centering multiple rocking core system (denoted as SMRC system) to reduce the structural member force demands resulting from the higher mode effects. The working principle of the SMRC system is discussed. The performance-based design (PBD) procedures for the SMRC system are presented. The comparative dynamic history analyses are conducted on a 9-story SMRC and two 9-story SEDRC systems. Incremental dynamic analyses (IDAs) are carried out to investigate the dynamic behaviors of the considered systems under increasing seismic intensities. The accuracy of the developed designed procedures is verified with the evidence that the developed SMRC system can achieve the design displacement under design earthquakes. The multiple rocking mechanism can efficiently mitigate structural member force demands caused by the effects of higher mode. The SMRC system can achieve better seismic performance with lower structural member force demands than the SEDRC systems when the earthquake intensity is not higher than the maximum considered earthquakes (MCE). Nevertheless, the SMRC system shows worse performance than the SEDRC systems in resisting structural collapse when the intensity is higher than MCE, which could be a research gap for further investigations.