Experimental Investigation of Braced Steel Frames Equipped with Dissipative Replaceable Connections

This paper reports the main experimental results of a series of experimental tests performed at University of Trento by means of the hybrid simulation technique. The testing specimen is a single storey braced frame, part of a six-floors structure, endowed with DRBrC components. Such components are designed in order to protect the remaining parts of the frame, i.e. columns, beams and braces. After a brief introduction on the dissipative component, the hybrid simulation framework employed for carrying out the tests is presented. The main results of the hybrid tests are then shown for the near collapse limit state test performed on the frame endowed with mild steel components. The favourable performance of the frame and the connection are highlighted. Finally, the mild steel components and the HSS components are compared in terms axial force-displacement diagrams. The hysteretic behaviour of the connections reveals that no actual benefit could be achieved by employing HSS in fabricating DRBrC boxes.