Experimental and Analytical Investigation of D-Type Self-Centering Steel Eccentrically Braced Frames with Replaceable Hysteretic Damping Devices

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of D-type self-centering eccentrically braced frames (SCEBF) subjected to cyclic loading. Analytical formulation of the SCEBF module frame's load-displacement relationship is first presented. A total of five one-bay one-story SCEBF module frame specimens were experimentally tested under cyclic loading to investigate their seismic behavior. Finite-element simulation study of Specimen SCEBF2 was also conducted to assist with specimen design. The replaceable hysteretic damping (RHD) devices made of low-yield steel were installed at the corners of a rocking link beam to use the amplified motion due to the rocking link beam's rotation and gap opening for energy dissipation. The experimental test results revealed that all the SCEBF specimens were capable of recentering and that the damage was confined to the RHD devices. It was also found that after severe cyclic loading, the SCEBF module frames with replaced RHD devices exhibited almost identical stiffness, strength, recentering ability, and energy dissipation capacity to those of the original structure.