抄録
Prefabricated large-span low-rise building frames with thin-walled welded I-section members are light, stiff and strong, but show load decay after buckling of members. The hysteretic behavior of such frames are evaluated using a nonlinear point-hinge analysis, in which decay of moment resistance of members under cyclic load is represented by empirical equations developed by the authors and incorporated in moment-rotation relationships of plastic hinges. Analysis results show good agreement with results of frame tests. Responses of these buildings to strong earthquake motions are evaluated for a variety of member dimensions and beam spans and are compared with national building code provisions. From these results an appropriate value for the "structural characteristic coefficient" is found to be of about 0. 4 for frames failing in local buckling mode, while it is of about 0. 55 for frames whose maximum loads are governed by lateral buckling of members.
