Reliability of Exposed Column-Base Plate Connection in Special Moment-Resisting Frames

Abstract eng:
Many steel moment-resisting frame buildings suffered failure at their column base connections during the 1995 Kobe, 1994 Northridge and 1989 Loma Prieta earthquakes. System reliability analysis of an exposed moment-resisting base plate connection designed for a low-rise steel special moment resisting frame is carried out using a structural reliability analysis software. Modes of failure of the column base are defined using a limit-state formulation based on the AISC Design Guide No. 1-2005. The predominant failure modes of the exposed column base include: yielding of the base plate on the compression side, crushing of concrete, and shear failure due to sliding of the base plate and bearing failure of the shear lugs against the adjacent concrete. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine the influences of limit-state and distribution parameters on the reliability of the system. On the demand side, the cantilever length of the base plate extending beyond the column cross section and the bending moment at the column base are found to be the main parameters influencing the failure of the column base connection. On the capacity side, the thickness of the base plate and the strength of steel are the main parameters influencing the reliability of the connection. Fragility curves are developed for each failure mode of the column base plate as well as for the connection as a system. These are expressed as a function of the spectral acceleration at the first mode period of the building.

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