Keywords

Abstract

Seismic performance; 

Reinforced concrete frame;  

Concentric brace;  

Low yield point (LYP) steel;  

I-shaped shear link; 

Ductility; 

Energy dissipation 

The experience of previous earthquakes has shown that reinforced concrete frames are susceptible to earthquake damage; therefore, several techniques have been suggested by researchers to enhance their efficiency. Although the reinforcement of RC frames with concentric braces does enhance the frame's stiffness and lateral resistance, it does not have much effect on its ductility. Hence, in this article, an I-shaped shear link as a damper is investigated with the aim of strengthening RC frames. This damper designed for ease of production and post-earthquake replacement, not only improves the frame's stiffness and resistance, but also augments its ductility and plastic behavior. Considering that the damage is expected to be limited in the damper, other structural components will remain in the elastic region. Although the addition of such dampers increases the ductility, it reduces the stiffness of the system. To compensate for this weakness, the damper using low yield point (LYP) steel is discussed and investigated. Furthermore, the effect of the thickness of the damper flanges on the seismic behavior of the frame is examined. The results show that the use of LYP steel in the construction of the studied shear damper can improve the stiffness and resistance of the reinforced concrete frame as well as the amount of energy dissipation. However, the mere use of LYP steel does not guarantee the improvement of the frame's behavior, and this is subject to the thickness of the damper’s flanges.

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