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偏心支撑框架(EBF)的可更换铸钢连杆原型。EBFS作为一种主要的抗侧向荷载体系在高地震区得到了广泛的应用。建议的可更换铸钢链节与EBFS链梁的传统设计实践相比可以提供显著的好处，从而将应力集中和过早破坏降至最低，并允许在地震发生后更换损坏的链节。为了成功地实现这一目标，提出了一个由六项研究任务组成的项目，即：1.1)可替换铸钢连杆的替代设计，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)开发用于结构体系级抗震性能评估的多元混合模拟方法，以及2.3)具有所开发的铸钢连杆的五层EBF的抗震性能评估。NSECRD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。该项目将与一名博士生和一名硕士研究生一起进行，为期三年。此外，每年将有两名本科生资助研究生，为期三年。研究结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，该行业合作伙伴将开发一条新的产品线，与该产品线一起在北美分享价值25,000,000美元的EBF市场。此外，采用可更换的铸钢链节将导致具有韧性的社会，可以迅速从潜在的重大地震事件中恢复过来。

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.