NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- The Effect of Connection Flexibility on the Seismic Response of Welded Open Steel Frames, Report No. 4.
- File
- PB80223936.pdf
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Engineering and Applied Science., June 1980, 157 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- R80-25
- Abstract
- An analytical investigation of the effect of panel zone flexibility on the seismic response of typical welded open steel frames is described. The study covered three broad areas: (1) analytical development of the panel zone shear mechanism and its incorporation into the stiffness matrix of a general movement-resisting steel frame; (2) investigation of the effect this incorporation has on both the elastic and inelastic seismic response of the structure; and (3) consideration of the implications these results have on the future analysis and design of open steel frames. Incorporation of connection behavior into the stiffness matrix requires that four degrees of freedom (DOFs) be provided at each nodal point, and that these DOFs be transformed geometrically to properly model the connection size. Model analysis results illustrate that connection flexibility significantly affects a structure's vibrational properties, and that under certain circumstances common analysis procedures lead to an inaccurate prediction of vibration freequencies. Inelastic response analysis results indicate that connection behavior directly affects the frame's energy-dissipating mechanism, and that less beam/column damage occurs when more flexible connections are employed.
- Keywords
- Steel construction; Earthquake resistant structures; Stiffness methods; Rigid frames; Dynamic response; Buildings; Earthquake engineering; Elastic properties; Computer programs; Earthquakes; Dynamic structural analysis