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

拟议的研究旨在开发和测试原型可更换铸钢连接偏心支撑框架（EBF）。在高烈度地震区，EBF作为一种主要的抗侧力体系得到了广泛的应用。所提出的可更换铸钢链节可以提供比用于EBF的链节梁的常规设计实践更大的益处，即最小化应力集中和过早失效，以及允许在地震事件之后更换损坏的链节。为了成功实现这一目标，提出了一个有六项研究任务的项目，即：1.1）开发可更换铸钢连接件的替代设计，1.2）通过实验室测试进行元件级性能验证，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）建立了结构体系级抗震性能评估的多单元混合模拟方法; 2.3）对一个采用所建立的铸钢连接件的五层EBF结构进行了抗震性能评估。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学生进行三年。此外，每年将有两名本科生支持研究生，为期三年。研究成果将对行业合作伙伴、建筑业和加拿大产生重大影响。在研究项目完成后的五年商业化计划完成后，行业合作伙伴将开发一个新的产品线，他们将分享北美2500万美元的EBF市场。此外，采用可更换的铸钢连接件将使社会具有复原力，能够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.