Reducing the magnitude and variability of seismic-induced acceleration and force responses in steel buildings with controlled rocking base mechanism and force-limiting connections

Abstract

This study numerically investigates the seismic response of a nine-story self-centering concentrically braced frame building incorporating force-limiting connections between the floor system and the lateral force-resisting system. Nonlinear earthquake simulations are conducted under design basis earthquake ground motions, and the results are compared against a baseline model with rigid-elastic connections. The study discusses connection design considerations and evaluates the effectiveness of force-limiting connections in mitigating higher-mode effects. The findings show that force-limiting connections significantly reduce the magnitude and variability of floor accelerations, brace forces, and connection forces, while maintaining comparable story drifts. Force-limiting connections primarily reduce the contribution of higher-mode responses, while the controlled rocking base mechanism modifies the first-mode response. Overall, the reduced dispersion in structural response improves the reliability of seismic design and enhances resilience by minimizing damage to both structural components and acceleration-sensitive nonstructural elements.

Keywords

Force-limiting connections / Rocking / Self-centering / Steel concentrically braced frames / Reduced variability / Higher-mode effects

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