Seismic response of low-rise 3-D steel structures equipped with the seesaw system

摘要

The efficiency of the seesaw system when applied to low-rise 3-D steel structures is presented in this paper. This efficiency is judged by several seismic response results coming from inelastic seismic time-history analyses of 2-, 5- and 8-storey steel structures. These response results involve height wise distributions for peak interstorey drift ratios (IDR), peak residual interstorey drift ratios (RIDR) and plastic hinge formations in frame elements as well as peak forces to spiral strand ropes and viscous dampers of the seesaw system. For the foundation of the steel structures, different soil types are considered in order to assess the effects of soil-structure interaction (SSI). The seismic incident angle is also taken into account. From the results presented it is concluded that the seesaw system, essentially working always in tension, constitutes a bracing solution that can be potentially proposed by seismic codes as an alternative seismic force resisting system for low-rise steel structures.