Numerical study on welded beam-to-column joints in hybrid-steel building frames

摘要

In the framework of European research project High Strength Steel in Seismic Resistant Building Frames (HSS-SERF), which aims at investigating and evaluating the seismic performance of hybrid-steel building frames, made of two different steel grades, two specific topologies of welded connections are studied. The main idea is to use High Strength Steel (HSS) for composite columns (non-dissipative elastic members) and Mild Carbon Steel (MCS) for beams (dissipative members). To take advantage of the additional fire resistance, structural stiffness and strength, fully encased composite columns are used. Nonlinear Finite-Element Modeling (FEM) of steel moment-resisting connections reinforced with steel plates was undertaken with two specific aims: as part of advanced preliminary numerical simulations in order to support the design and final geometry of test specimens that are going to be tested; to establish the models that are going to be validated against results from full-scale physical tests.