Design and numerical analysis of a damage-controllable mechanical hinge beam-to-column connection

摘要

This paper presents an innovative earthquake resilient steel beam-to-column connection with a mechanical hinge and a pair of buckling-restrained steel plates for seismic damage control of steel structures. The mechanical hinge is used to carry shear force while the buckling-restrained steel plates bolted to the beam flanges are used to transfer bending moment. Energy dissipation of the connection is provided through inelastic axial deformation of the steel plates. Design method of the connection was proposed to ensure that inelastic deformation was concentrated in the steel plates while other structural members remain essential elastic. The effects of the steel plate size, restraining member size and bolt spacing were investigated by a parametric study to provide design recommendations for preventing buckling failure of the steel plate. Based on results of a case study, theoretical equations for predicting the connection behavior were verified.