Seismic Response of Steel Frames Including Brittle Fractures at Hysteretic Dampers

Abstract

A numerical analysis method which can consider the fracture of hysteretic dampers in the dynamic response of steel frames is proposed. Seismic response analyses including brittle fractures at hysteretic dampers are carried out for I2-story 3-span steel frames. It is assumed that the damper fracture occurs in the specific or the arbitrary stories when cumulative ductility factor of the damper reaches a critical value. The effects of the fracture condition, the seismic properties and the shear strength ratio of dampers on seismic response of frames including hysteretic damper fractures are revealed.