Tensile stresses and cracks in concrete slabs induced by a hogging moment have always been a disadvantage of steel-concrete composite structures and key issue of concern in the design of such structures. To reduce the tensile stress and control the crack width of the reinforced concrete (RC) slab, a new type of connector, called the uplift-restricted and slip-permitted (URSP) connector has been proposed and successfully applied in the area subjected to a negative bending moment in steel-concrete composite bridges. The feasibility of the URSP connector in steel-concrete composite frame buildings is investigated in this study based on a comprehensive parametric analysis. The effects of URSP connectors on the cracking behavior, as well as the stiffness and strength of composite frames, are systematically analyzed using an elaborate finite element model, which resembles a typical composite beam-column joint subjected to both lateral loads and vertical loads. In addition, an optimized arrangement length of URSP connectors is proposed for practical design. The research findings indicate that the application of URSP connectors greatly improves the crack resistance of RC slabs without an obvious reduction of the ultimate capacity and lateral stiffness of the composite frame. It is recommended that the distribution length of URSP connectors at each beam end should be 20–25% of the frame beam length.
An eccentrically braced composite frame with a low-yield-point (LYP) steel shear link is an efficient energy dissipation system that exhibits good mechanical properties. However, existing experimental studies have not fully demonstrated the superiority and applicability of the structural system. We present a structural mechanics and finite element model analysis of an eccentrically braced composite frame with a vertical shear link. The effect of the design parameters on the seismic performance of the structure is analyzed. First, a theoretical model of the mechanics of the structural system is established to provide a comprehensive description of the key parameters. Then, a finite element model is developed using the computer program ABAQUS to analyze the mechanical and energy dissipation mechanisms. Finally, the beam-to-column stiffness ratio, shear link web thickness, shear link web width and length, and diagonal brace stiffness are analyzed to determine their effects on the mechanical properties of the structural system. Furthermore, some design parameter values are suggested.
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