Experimental Investigations into Earthquake Resistance of Steel Frame Retrofitted by Low-Yield-Point Steel Energy Absorbers

Abstract

This paper is the world’s first to highlight an experimental investigation into the earthquake responses of a steel frame retrofitted by novel metallic bending energy absorbers made of low-yield-point steel with the yield strength of approximately 100 MPa. New results have been achieved by conducting comprehensive shaking table tests on a quarter-scaled model of a two-story, one-span building structure subjected to incremental intensity levels of input earthquake records. The detailed information of the specimens, material properties, monitoring sensors, and dynamic loading mechanisms has been presented. The experimental results in terms of seismic phenomena, dynamic characteristics, acceleration, inter-story drift ratios, and strain distributions are also analyzed by the data collected from a wide range of sensors. It is found that the seismic failure of the specimens depends largely on the energy absorbers, which dissipate the majority of seismic input energy in order to prevent the parent steel frame from being damaged by a severe earthquake. In addition, the retrofitted structure sufficiently satisfies the design criteria considering allowable drift limits under both frequent and rare earthquakes. This indicates the influential role of the novel low-yield-point absorber, in that the overall seismic performance of the retrofitted structure can be improved adequately for survival in high-intensity seismic fortification areas.

Special Issue “Extreme Sciences and Engineering”

“…Shao et al [17] presented the world's first steel frame retrofitted by novel metallic bending energy absorbers that were made of low-yield-point steel with the yield strength of approximately 100 MPa. New results were achieved by conducting comprehensive shaking-table tests on a quarter-scaled model of a two-story, one-span building structure that was subjected to incremental intensity levels of input earthquake records.…”

Investigating the behavior of an innovative butterfly‐shaped damper: An experimental and numerical study

“…The passive metallic dampers that are attached indirectly to the CBF braces, between the chevron brace and floor beam, are widely used in practical projects, especially for rehabilitation uses. Figure 1 illustrates the common flexural mechanism dampers including single‐axis, 1 tapered cantilever, 2 ADAS, 3 TADAS, 4 parabolic, 5 slit, 6 X‐shaped, 7 double X‐shaped, 8 comb‐teeth, 9 and shear‐flexural dampers 7 . For these types of dampers, one or more connected dampers may be used together to resist large imposed forces.…”

Experimental Investigation into Failure Modes of Low-Yield-Point Steel Plate Shear Walls

“…Various seismic structures and energy dissipation materials, such as foamed aluminum [11,12] and low-yield-point steel [13], which replaced the traditional reinforced concrete construction [14][15][16][17], have been discovered and utilized as scholars continued their research on seismic performance. Low-yield-point (LYP) steel, as a new material with better inelastic deformation capacity, superior elongation, and low yield-strength ratio, has been increasingly utilized and developed in energy dissipation and vibration damping structures such as steel plate shear walls and dampers [18][19][20].…”