STUDY ON SEISMIC PERFORMANCE OF SELF-CENTERING STEEL FRAME WITH WEDGE DEVICE

Abstract

 Steel frames retain residual deformation after a huge earthquake, their continued use is impractical. This paper aims to decrease residual deformation by use of connections incorporating a wedge device. A loading test on a specimen with a beam joint connected by conventional bolts and using such a device shows that its restoring force characteristics are of the linear-from-origin type. Seismic response analyses of steel frames with such wedge device connections lead to the following conclusions: they show no residual deformation; and story deformation angles, story shear forces, story shear coefficients, and energy absorption capability are equivalent to those for rigid frames. Furthermore, plastic deformation behavior of the wedge device connection is superior to that of rigid frames.