Performance of Cast Steel Replaceable Yielding Links in Steel Eccentrically Braced Frames

This research project is aimed at the development and experimental validation of a new generation of cast steel replaceable yielding links for use in steel eccentrically braced frames (EBF). The cast steel links can be used to make EBF more resilient than the conventional links. Through the collaboration with the industry partner, CastConnex, in the past four years, the performance of several sizes of cast steel links was experimentally tested. Currently, the performance of an EBF with the proposed cast steel links is being studied using an advanced simulation method. The proposed research will be focused on the experimental validation of an alternative design of the cast steel replaceable links to further enhance the performance of the links, proposing a method to improve the reusability of EBFs after an earthquake event, and detailed post-processing of the experimental results. This will ensure that little to no structural repair would be required for budlings using the proposed system, after major earthquakes. The performance of the newly proposed self-centering eccentrically braced frames will be studied through numerical and experimental simulations.

Faculty Supervisor:

Oh-Sung Kwon

Student:

Partner:

Cast Connex Corporation

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Toronto

Program: