On the mechanical model and seismic performance of frames with a self-centering connection

Regarding the approved desired structural performance of the self-centering pinned beam-column connections with friction dampers (SC-PC-FD), it is required to present an accurate mechanical model of SC-PC-FD connection for easy modelling of the frames with this type of connections using the common commercial structural analysis and design software. Therefore, this paper presents a simple mechanical model and verifies its accuracy considering the obtained results by experimental and numerical studies on 2-strand and 4-strand SC-PC-FD connections. Moreover, the seismic performance of the frames with SC-PC-FD connections was evaluated using incremental dynamic analysis and compared to moment-resisting frames. For this purpose, 1-, 3- and 5-story building models with moment and SC-PC-FD connections were designed, and two-dimensional frames were subjected to the considered far-field, pulse near-field, and no-pulse near-field earthquake records as per FEMA-P695 and then, the collapse margin ratio (CMR) and fragility curves of these models were obtained. It was concluded that the developed component-based mechanical model accurately predicted the monotonic and cyclic behaviour of SC-PC-FD connection. Moreover, the amount of maximum residual interstory drift ratio, along with the number of developed plastic hinges at the main members of self-centering models was reduced significantly, and the novel system achieved more CMR values.