Seismic engineering research infrastructures for European synergies : full-scale experimental validation of dual eccentrically braced frame with removable links

Conventional seismic design philosophy is based on dissipative structural response, which implicitly accepts structural damage under the design earthquake load thus leading to significant economic losses. Different strategies can be employed in order to reduce damage to structures under moderate to strong earthquakes such as base isolation and various implementations of active and semi-active structural control. Other strategies rely on supplemental damping conferred to the structure through various devices. These solutions require specialized knowledge at the design stage and during erection, careful maintenance and high initial cost. Another option constitutes a conventional design with replaceable dissipative members, easy to substitute even after strong earthquake, and thus reducing the repair costs. A system with removable dissipative elements has to fulfil two requirements to be efficient. Firstly, inelastic deformations should occur in removable elements only. Secondly, the damaged dissipative elements must be replaceable. Replacing the elements is more efficient if the structure does not have large permanent deformations. These two concepts were implemented in a dual structure, obtained by combining steel eccentrically braced frames (with removable bolted links) and moment resisting frames. The bolted links provide the energy dissipation capacity, while the moment resisting frames provide the necessary re-centering capability.