An Innovative Method for the Seismic Retrofitting of Existing Steel Moment Frame Structures Using Side Plate Technology

Abstract

The 1994 Northridge earthquake caused widespread damage to steel moment-resisting frames including brittle fractures of beam-to-column welded moment connections. The damage was in the form of brittle failures at the interface of the beam and column members and was detected in multistory buildings. Improvements to these pre-Northridge existing connections are often required as part of an overall strengthening scheme, particularly when higher performance levels are desired. To improve the behavior of moment resisting connections, the SidePlate connection was designed and began to market as an alternative moment connection. The SidePlate connection technology uses a pair of parallel full-depth side plates to connect the beam to the column, thereby eliminating the traditional welded connection between the end of the beam and the face of the column flange. Plastic Hinge

Numerical study of the behavior of intermeshed steel connections under mixed-mode loading

“…Field welding and bolting have played dominant roles in the construction of steel structural connections since the post-World War II era, despite considerable material and labor costs. With significant advances in manufacturing and building information modeling (BIM), there has been an increasing interest in developing new connection systems to facilitate more cost-effective construction [1]. Another motivation for developing new connection systems is to improve the ease of deconstructing steel structures, which would maximize the reusability of the components.…”