Experimental performance of Y-shaped eccentrically braced frames fabricated with high strength steel

In Y-shaped eccentrically braced frame fabricated with high strength steel (Y-HSS-EBF), link uses conventional steel while other structural members use high strength steel. Cyclic test for a 1: 2 length scaled one-bay and one-story Y-HSS-EBF specimen and shake table test for a 1: 2 length scaled three-story Y-HSS-EBF specimen were carried out to research the seismic performance of Y-HSS-EBF. These include the failure mode, load-bearing capacity, ductility, energy dissipation capacity, dynamic properties, acceleration responses, displacement responses, and dynamic strain responses. The test results indicated that the one-bay and one-story Y-HSS-EBF specimen had good load-bearing capacity and ductility capacity. The three-story specimen cumulative structural damage and deformation increased, while its stiffness decreased. There was no plastic deformation observed in the braces, beams, or columns in the three-story Y-HSS-EBF specimen, and there was no danger of collapse during the seismic loads. The designed shear link dissipated the energy via shear deformation during the seismic loads. When the specimen was fractured, the maximum link plastic rotation angle was higher than 0.08 rad for the shear link in AISC341-10. The Y-HSS-EBF is a safe dual system with reliable hysteretic behaviors and seismic performance.