Damage resistant self-centering sliding hinge joint

Abstract

In order to minimise the economic impacts of future earthquakes on society, the focus of new seismic-resisting system development is on damage resistance, where the structural system can withstand a design level ultimate limit state (ULS) earthquake with minimum post-earthquake disruption to the structure’s functionality. 

The Sliding Hinge Joint (SHJ), developed from 1998 to 2005, is the key component of one such system for moment-resisting steel frames (MRSF). It is detailed to be rigid under serviceability limit state (SLS), allow column “ductile” rotation relative to the beams under ULS conditions, and become rigid again after the ULS event with little repair required. Experimental testing has shown that the current SHJ undergoes small but significant loss of elastic strength and stiffness once forced into the sliding state, and numerical modelling of MRSFs has shown that the joints do not fully return to the pre-earthquake position in all instances. 

The principal objective of this research is to develop a self-centering Sliding Hinge Joint that provides ductile moment-rotation performance similar to that of the current SHJ, with enhanced re-centering properties. The SCSHJ would return to effectively rigid following the ULS earthquake, and will ensure the post ULS earthquake residual MRSF drifts are within post-construction tolerance limits. The fully damage resistant system would be suitable for multi-storey buildings and would not require any form of maintenance following an ULS earthquake event.

The following published articles were accepted in lieu of a final report:

Khoo, HH, C Clifton, JW Butterworth, GA MacRae, G Ferguson, 2012. Influence of steel shim hardness on the Sliding Hinge Joint performance, Journal of constructional steel research 72(0):119‐129.

Khoo, HH, C Clifton, JW Butterworth, GA MacRae, CD Mathieson, 2011. Development of the selfcentering Sliding Hinge Joint. Ninth Pacific Conference of Earthquake Engineering, Auckland, New Zealand.

Khoo, HH, C Clifton, JW Butterworth, GA MacRae, 2012. Experimental studies of the Self‐Centering Sliding Hinge Joint, 2012 NZSEE Conference, Paper Number 023

Khoo, HH, C Clifton, JW Butterworth, GA MacRae, 2012. Shim and bolt size effects on the
Asymmetric Friction Connection, Seventh International Specialty Conference STESSA 2012, Santiago, Chile.