EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF STEEL SEISMIC LINKS

Abstract eng:
Seismic-links are energy dissipative structural elements developed for earthquake-resistant steel structures. The link is designed to experience severe inelastic deformations, absorbing significant part of seismic energy, so that the rest of the structure remains intact. In the present paper, experimental testing and numerical simulations on horizontal seismic links are reported, subjected to strong full-reversing cyclic loading. The link specimens are subjected to combined shear and bending, representing the actual conditions acting on a seismic link during severe earthquake action. Eighteen (18) large scale tests are performed by means of displacement-controlled conditions for different steel material grades (S355, S700), lengths and section types. Three types of cross sections are under consideration: H-shape (HEA) S355 steel, circular hollow section (CHS) S700 steel and rectangular hollow section (RHS) S700 steel. Loading histories with both constant and increasing amplitude loading, which follows the ECCS No45 testing protocol, are applied. A custom-made experimental set-up has been followed, which employs a special-purpose frame that induces a combination of bending and shear deformation on the steel link specimen. Several DCDT and wire position transducers, inclinometers and strain gages are used to monitor the specimens’ behavior. Three dimensional numerical models have also been employed for the numerical simulation of the tests. The models were developed in the commercial finite element software ABAQUS/Standard. Their key feature is the adoption and calibration of an advanced and efficient plasticity model, capable of simulating both the plastic plateau upon initial yielding and the Bauschinger effect under reverse loading. The constitutive model is calibrated using cyclic tests of steel material which is under consideration, and is capable of simulating the structural behavior of the link under repeated loading.

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