Development of replaceable cast steel links for eccentrically braced steel frames and performance assessment of structures adopting the links

所提出的研究旨在开发和测试用于偏心支撑框架（EBFs）的可替换铸钢连接原型。在高震区，ebf作为主要的抗侧向荷载体系已得到广泛应用。与传统的ebf连接梁设计实践相比，所提出的可替换铸钢连接具有显著的优势，可以最大限度地减少应力集中和过早破坏，并允许在地震事件发生后更换损坏的连接。为成功达致目标，我们提出一项包含六项研究任务的计划，即：1.1)开发可替换铸钢连接的替代设计，1.2)通过实验室试验进行单元级性能验证，1.3)框架级性能验证，2.1)通过混合模拟进行框架级抗震性能评估，2.2)开发用于结构系统级抗震性能评估的多单元混合模拟方法，以及2.3)使用开发的铸钢连接对五层EBF进行抗震性能评估。NSER CRD基金将主要支持任务2.1至2.3，其他任务将由OCE VIP II基金支持。该项目将由一名博士和一名MASc学生进行为期三年的研究。此外，每年将有两名本科生支持研究生，为期三年。研究结果将对行业合作伙伴、建筑行业和加拿大产生重大影响。在完成研究项目后的五年商业化计划后，行业合作伙伴将开发一条新的产品线，他们将在北美分享2500万美元的ebf市场。此外，采用可替换的铸钢连接将导致有弹性的社会，可以从潜在的重大地震事件中迅速恢复。

The proposed research is aimed at developing and testing prototype replaceable cast steel links for eccentrically braced frames (EBFs). EBFs have been extensively used as a main lateral load resisting system in high seismic regions. The proposed replaceable cast steel links can provide significant benefits over the conventional design practice of link beams for EBFs be minimizing stress concentration and premature failure, as well as by allowing replacement of damaged links after earthquake events. To successfully achieve the objective, a project with six research tasks is proposed namely: 1.1) development of alternative designs of replaceable cast steel links, 1.2) element-level performance validation through laboratory tests, 1.3) frame-level performance validation, 2.1) frame-level seismic performance assessment through hybrid simulation, 2.2) development of multi-element hybrid simulation method for structural system-level seismic performance assessment, and 2.3) seismic performance assessment of a five-storey EBF with the developed cast steel links. NSER CRD fund will mainly support Tasks 2.1 through 2.3 while the other tasks will be supported by OCE VIP II fund. The project will be carried out with one PhD and one MASc students for three years. In addition, two undergraduate students will support the graduate students each year for three years. The research outcome will have significant impact to the industry partner, the construction industry, and Canada. Upon the completion of a five-year commercialization plan after the research project, the industry partner will develop a new product line with which they will share $25,000,000 market of EBFs in North America. In addition, the adoption of replaceable cast steel links will lead to resilient society, which can recover, quickly from potential major earthquake events.