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On the Evaluation of the Use of EKBs to Improve Seismic Performance of Steel Frames

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Abstract

In this paper a new eccentric and knee bracing system named Eccentrically Knee Brace (EKB) is introduced and its merits to increase seismic performance of the steel frames is investigated. To assess the seismic behavior of this system compared to other steel braced systems, numerical modeling using finite element software is implemented. Subjected to moderate earthquakes, the knee element exclusively dissipates the seismic energy through plastic shear distortion, while the other structural elements remain in elastic range. Under severe earthquakes, plastic deformation of the knee element will be halted by the stopper subsequently causing yielding of the link element. Finally, a simplified analytical model is derived to predict the bilinear behavior of the EKBs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Structural Engineering Research Center, (SERC), International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES), Tehran, Iran

    Behrokh Hosseini Hashemi

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Malayer Branch, Islamic Azad University, Malayer, Iran

    Mehdi Alirezaei

Authors
  1. Behrokh Hosseini Hashemi
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  2. Mehdi Alirezaei
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Correspondence to Behrokh Hosseini Hashemi.

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Hashemi, B.H., Alirezaei, M. On the Evaluation of the Use of EKBs to Improve Seismic Performance of Steel Frames. Int J Steel Struct 18, 25–37 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-018-0303-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-018-0303-8

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