Experimental research and damage analysis on vibration absorption performance of filled steel connection.

The design for traditional steel rigid connection cannot fulfill the desired seismic requirements. Though beam-column connections with reduced beam end section can approximately realize the concept about 'strong column-weak beam', the local buckling in the weakened zone may be occur in strong earthquake and the capacity is not enough. The filled connection with low yield point steel is proposed base on the concept of earthquake resilient structure. In this connection, the weakened parts in the flange and web plate are filled with low yield point steel, and the low yield point steel firstly yields and dissipates energy sufficiently in earthquake. Hence, the damage of the main parts in the connection is minor and the low yield point steel can be replaced after the earthquake. According to the insufficiency of the existing seismic damage models, the damage model based on differential ratio of elasto-plastic dissipated energy is proposed. Low cycle loading experimental research was carried out on three types of connections which included traditional connection, beam end weakened connection and filled connection. Comprehensive assessments of damping performance are proposed through a variety of performance evaluation parameters. It is proved that the filled connection has excellent bearing capacity, ductility and energy dissipation capacity. In addition, the proposed energy damage index can represent damage evolution process and damage law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]