Component-Based Model and Experimental Behavior of a Dissipative Steel Link for Hybrid Structures

In this paper the development, calibration and experimental validation of a component-based model of a dissipative steel link connecting a reinforced concrete wall and a steel gravity frame is presented. The structural configuration of the system studied is extrapolated by an innovative hybrid structure proposed within the European RFCS project INNO-HYCO (INNOvative HYbrid and COmposite steel-concrete structural solutions for building in seismic area). The system studied is the hybrid coupled shear wall (HCSW), obtained coupling a reinforced concrete wall with two side steel columns by means of steel links where the energy dissipation takes place. Such dissipative elements are intended to behave similarly to links of eccentric braces while the connection with the reinforced concrete wall has to be suitably designed in order to make the links replaceable. Obviously, the dissipative capacity of such structures is greatly influenced by the effective hysteretic behaviour of the link and of the link-to-wall and link-to-steel frame connections. For this reason, an experimental research programme on HCSW system sub-assemblages containing the dissipative element and the aforementioned connections has been carried out. Two different types of link-to-wall connection systems have been tested in order to highlight their influence on the global dissipative capacity. A non-linear cyclic component-based model of the entire sub-assemblage is then developed and, on the basis of experimental results, calibrated, enabling in this way a better understanding of the force transmission mechanisms.