ECCS Congress and Annual Meeting 2011

September 21 23, 2011, Potsdam, Germany

Advanced Research Results

in Seismic Design of Steel
Structures
Dan Dubina, Prof. PhD
Politehnica University, Timisoara, Romania

Introduction

A well designed (robust) seismic resistant

structure should posses a good balance
between strength, stiffness and ductility of its
components
Ductile

components energy dissipation through

plastic deformation without affecting global integrity
Alternative paths - for stress distribution after local
damages (e.g. plastic degradation, local failure)
Overstrength components to resist in any
conditions, in order to help the building to remain
standing

Robust structures

A robust structure is not only able to remain standing

and keep its overall integrity after the seismic event,
but it must be also reparable!
Dissipative components, undergoing plastic
deformations, must act like Fuses but then need to be
replaced after they played their sacrificial mission
The part of the structure that remains elastic needs to
have the capacity to develop a recentering action in
order to reduce the residual drift within the limits of
reparable levels (e.g. less than 1%)

A Performance Based Design philosophy

may be applied

reparable

standing collapse

Actual trends in seismic design of

structures

Better characterization of seismic action and definition

of acceptable risk through performance capacity
New structural systems, devices and materials

High
performance
materials

Inter-relationship between seismic demand and structural capacity as

applied to earthquake-resistant design
(Durgesh C. Rai, Future trends in earthquake-resistant design of structures)

New structural systems, materials and

devices

High performance materials:

High

strength steel, high strength concrete

Low yield strength steel
Composite materials (FRP)
Intelligent materials (SMAs)

Control and reduction of seismic response:

Base

isolation
Energy dissipation devices
Structural control systems

Passive
Active

Recentering
systems

Recentering systems

Frames of recentering devices

Post-tensioned beam-to-column joints
Column-base rocking connections

Dual frames of intrinsic recentering capacity

Fuse removable devices

Dual structures of recentering capacity.

The principle

Conditions for the efficiency:

a system containing removable dissipative elements
isolating inelastic deformations to removable elements only
possibility to replace damaged elements (this can be difficult
if the structure experiences large permanent drifts)

An efficient dual system combines a rigid and ductile

subsystem, with a flexible subsystem
F

Fyf +Fyr
Kf , Fyf

Fyr +Kf xyr

Fyr
F

Fyf

Fyf +Fyr

Kf
plr

Simplified model of a
generalized dual system

Fyr

Fyf

Kr

Kr, Fyr
yr

Kf
yf

pD pr

Dual structures of recentering capacity.

The principle

At the limit, when the removable element reaches the

plastic stage:

yf yr plr

where

If:
Then:

yf - yield displacement
yr + plr - total displacement

F k
yr plr yf Fyf K yr
D

yr
yr Fyr K yf

D represents the "useful" ductility of the rigid subsystem, for which the
flexible subsystem still responds in the elastic range

Factors controlling the performance of

dual frames

There are two important factors to obtain a

ductile dual system (plastic deformations
isolated in the rigid subsystem alone):
ratio

between the yield strength of the flexible and

rigid subsystems
ratio between the stiffness of the rigid subsystem and
the one of the flexible subsystem

Practical implementation of the concept of

removable dissipative elements and dual
systems can be obtained by combining braced
frames (rigid subsystem) with moment-resisting
frames (flexible subsystem).

Research developments at Politehnica

University of Timisoara

Four Dual Systems of recentering capacity have been

tested experimentally and numerically:
MRF + DSW

MRF + RBL

- External bays of moment resisting

frames, rigid connections

- External bays of moment resisting

frames, rigid connections

- Internal bay of eccentrically braces

and removable links

- Internal bay of dissipative steel shear

walls, bolted connected

Research developments at Politehnica

University of Timisoara

Four Dual Systems of recentering capacity have been

tested experimentally and numerically:
MRF + SHFD

MRF + BRB

- External bays of moment resisting

frames, rigid connections

- External bays of moment resisting

frames, rigid connections

- Internal bay of Strain Hardening

Friction Dampers coupled with centric
braces

- Internal bay of buckling restrained

braces

MRF + RBL

Eccentrically braced frames EBF are efficient systems for seismic

applications
Structural damage in links can be significant
Repair of damaged members is expensive and difficult.
If damage can be isolated to links realised to be removable, the repair
costs and time of interruption of building use can be reduced.
There are two criticisms to the removable link solution
the permanent (residual) deformations of the structure after the earthquake
- this can make the removing of the links very difficult
the interaction between the removable link and the concrete slab

The bolted link concept

Validation tests
Experimental tests to validate the feasibility and

efficiency:
on link elements

on frames with EBF

Force - deformation curve

Results:
- influence of the connection on the response (overall hysteretic
response)
- shorter links suitable for the bolted solution, allowing for an easy
replacement
- removable link solution feasible

Recentring capacity, removal of the

links

II

III

40

800

600

30
B

25

400

20
C

15

200

10

10

0
-200

IV

35

D, mm

Inelastic deformations constrained to the removable links alone

Combining EBF with MRF can provide the re-centring capability
to the structure, once the links damaged during an earthquake
are removed

FA, kN

15

20

25

30

35

40

5
0

D, mm

Force vs top displacement

50

100

150

200

Time, min

Top displacement vs time

250

Numerical study

Analysed structure has 3 spans of 6 meters, 5 bays of 6 meters,

and 3 storeys of 3.5 meters each
Static nonlinear analysis, structure pushed until ULS drift limit
attained, then the lateral load was removed

The links are removed, starting from the top

Structure almost recovers the initial undeformed position

Full scale test (in progress)

Dual structure: EBF + MRF

EBF - energy dissipation capacity (in removable links)
MRF - elastic response in order to provide the restoring
force upon removal of links

Objectives

Validate experimentally the recentering capability

of dual structures with removable dissipative
members
Investigate the interaction between the concrete
slab and the steel structure in the link region
Assess global seismic performance of dual
EBFs with removable links, including
replacement of damaged links
Small

permanent deformations: unscrewing the bolts

Large deformations: flame cutting of the link web prior
to unscrewing bolts

TA facility and Partnership

TA facility: European Laboratory for Structural

Assessment (ELSA)
Full-scale

structure
Two solutions for slab-link interaction applied for the
two perimeter frames

Partnership:
Lead

user:
"Politehnica" University of Timisoara, Romania
Partner users:

University of Liege, Belgium

University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
University of Naples "Federico II", Italy
University of Coimbra, Portugal

MRF + DSW

Steel plate shear wall systems (SPSW) are used for seismic
applications since 1970s, mostly in the United States and Japan
Numerous research programs and also seismic experiences have
confirmed their effectiveness
The application of SPSW system in Europe is limited, partly due to
the lack of design provisions in seismic code EN 1998-1
Additional problem refers to the prediction of the strength, stiffness
and ductility capacity of the SPSW structures

Types of behaviour

SPSW resisting shear in shear yielding and tension field action

Slender infill plates

The hysteretic response of the thin slender steel plate

shear walls is characterized by a typical pinching effect
when loaded cyclically, due to the release of the tension
field after load reversal
This particular behaviour of steel plates makes them
appropriate for the application of structural fuse concept,
as they can recover the initial undeformed position
F

Tension field m echanism

Experimental program

A research program was developed at the Politehnica University

of Timisoara
The evaluation of seismic performances of SPSW structures
and the effectiveness of the structural fuse concept

Test specimens

Test specimens were extracted from a six story frame

structure:

rigid and semi-rigid beam-to-column connection

HEB240 column (S460)
HEA180 beam (S355)
HEB180 panel boundary interior column (S420)
2 and 3 mm panels (S275)
bolted infill plates

Monotonic test

The specimens presented stable force-displacement behaviour

Local fractures at corners of the panels at interstory drifts of 2%
No beam-to-column connections damages before plastic
deformations in panels
Local plastic deformations started to initiate at the beam flange in
compression for drifts larger than 2%
Interstorey drift of 6% at peak capacity

Cyclic test

Recentring properties

The unloading is accompanied by a very low stiffness - the

structure can recover the initial position even with a
reduced recentring force
The MR frame can be sized to remain elastic to allow for
recentring of the structure -this allows easy repairing or
replacement of damaged steel plates
Base shear force [kN]

1200

Rigid, 2mm plate

b
-200

Top displacement [mm]

200

-1200

Experimental hysteresis curve, cycle 11

Numerical study

A 6 story structure, similar to the base structure used in the

design of tested specimens
Static nonlinear analysis, structure pushed until ULS drift limit is
attained, then the lateral load is removed

The panels are removed, starting from the top (similar to RBL)
Structure almost recovers the initial undeformed position

MRF + [CBF +SHFD]

Friction dampers (FD) are usually

combined with a CB system
They provide stable hysteretic loops
and are capable of dissipating large
quantities of energy with negligible
degradation
Common FDs behave like an ideal
elastic-plastic element (can be
compared also with the behaviour of
a buckling restrained brace)
A special FD, developed by a local
research company
(http://www.serb.ro) has been
studied at PU Timisoara
The strain hardening friction damper
SHFD has a completely different
behaviour compared to common
FDs

Friction Damper (FD)

Strain Hardening Friction

Damper (SHFD)

Experimental program

Experimental tests were made on two dampers (capacities

of 800kN and 1500 kN)
ECCS loading protocol
Two concepts were considered:
SB - the braces remain elastic - the response of the structure
is controlled through the SHFD
WB - the damper has sufficient over-strength compared to the
brace - the brace has plastic deformations

Weak brace (WB)

Strong brace (SB)

Brace without
damper

Discussion of the results

SB Concept:

Behaviour of the brace - damper system is governed by the

constitutive law of the damper.
The system does not suffer any degradation (strength, stiffness)
The system will continue to take loads until the maximum
capacity of the device is reached, with the brace remaining in
elastic range.
System failure is brittle

WB Concept:

The brace is allowed to have plastic deformation and the

behaviour of the damper - brace system is a mixed one
Failure in this design concept is represented by the failure of the
brace in compression
It is expected that this type of system could improve the
behaviour of rigid structures that are sensitive to formation of
plastic hinges under frequent earthquakes

Numerical study

The behaviour model of the SHFD results as a combination

of two link elements working in parallel:
a bilinear symmetric behaviour type link (left)
a gap-hook element that is employed to model the pinching of
the curve (right)

Frame geometry, seismic motions

- 5 story frame, extracted from a 3x3 layout
with 3 spans of 6 m with chevron bracing in
the mid-span and a storey height of 3.5m
- Structures with and without SHFDs

- Time-history analyses, using two sets of

seismic motions: 7 recorded seismic motion
characteristic for soft soil type (Bucharest)
and 7 artificially generated seismic motions
characteristic for stiff soil (Class B soil
according to SREN1998-1

Results

Improved behaviour for stiff soil conditions (SB concept)

SLS
Nodmp

Nodmp
SHFD
FD

SLS

SHFD

FD

Nodmp
SHFD
FD

SHFD

Nodmp
SHFD
FD

ULS

CPLS

MRF + BRB
BRB principle

A steel core is inserted in a steel tube, filled with

concrete.
The steel plate resists the loads and dissipates seismic
energy by yielding while the steel tube and the concrete
restrain the buckling of the core plate

Code provisions

The design of BRBFs

AISC 2005
EN 15129

In both provisions, two test types, with two

different displacement protocols, are
required:
a uniaxial test
a subassembly test

Loading protocol
AISC 2005 - characterized by a repetition of
two cycles at Dy, followed by groups of two
cycles in increments of 0.5 Dbm until the
cumulative inelastic deformation reaches 200
Dy at least
the modified ECCS - characterized by three
repetitions at 4 Dy, 8 Dy until a cumulative
inelastic deformation of 200 Dy is reached at
the end of the protocol.

Applications
New constructions

Osaka International Convention Center, Japan

University of California, USA

Seismic retrofitting of existing

constructions

The University of Utah Marriott Library, USA

Hewlett Packard Co, Corvalis Campus, USA

Case study

Prototype design
BRB geometry

Test on BRB elements

Materials for BRB system

The core:

Steel - S275 (fy = 275 N/ mm2, fu = 400 N/mm2, A% = 34%)

Unbonding material PVC film, rubber sheet, asphaltic bitumen

Infill material concrete C40/50

Number of tests on BRB element

2 monotonic - tension/compresion
2 cyclic tests for each type of debonding materials

Cyclic tests

BRB model for nonlinear analysis,

calibrated on experimental test
400

Tension

200
Force [KN]

Results:
- a stable hysteresis loops
- almost the same capacity in tension and
compression
- the same rigidity
- smaller ductility index values were obtained
according to ECCS protocol, compared to
AISC

0
-0.08

-0.06

-0.04

-0.02

0.02

-200

Compression

-400
Displacement [m]

0.04

0.06

0.08

Application to RC frames retrofitting

Increase both strength and ductility

After earthquake, damaged concrete frame members can
be repaired (eg. FRP) and consumed BRBs (the fuses)
replaced

Concluding remarks

Dual systems with an appropriate calibration of ductile components and

overstrength components enable for a better and safer control of the
behavior
Ductile components can be design as replaceable fuse devices, to
facilitate repairing after earthquakes
Non-dissipative components, which need for overstrength to remain
predominantly elastic during earthquake, can be realised from HSS. This
solution does not change the distribution of rigidity in the structure
Dan Dubin, Prof., PhD
Daniel Grecea, Prof., PhD
Mircea Georgescu; Assoc. Prof, PhD
Raul Zaharia, Assoc. Prof, PhD
Viorel Ungureanu, Assoc. Prof, PhD
Florea Dinu, Assoc. Prof, PhD
Aurel Stratan, Assoc. Prof, PhD
Adrian Ciutina, Assoc. Prof, PhD
Dan Pintea, Ass. Prof. PhD
Adrian Dogariu, PhD
Sorin Bordea, PhD
Clin Neagu, PhD
Gelu Danku, PhD
Norin Filip-Vcrescu, PhD
Andrei Crian, PhD