Preliminary analyses of an innovative solution for reducing seismic damage in steel-concrete hybrid-coupled walls

Abstract

Hybrid steel-concrete structures used as earthquake-resistant systems are an interesting solution for buildings in seismic prone areas, combining in effective ways the benefits of concrete and steel. In this context, an innovative single-pier hybrid coupled wall (SP-HCW), made of a single reinforced concrete wall coupled to two steel side columns by means of steel link, was recently proposed. The system is conceived to reduce the damage in the reinforced concrete wall while concentrating dissipation to the replaceable links. Although the numerical analyses for this innovative solution showed encouraging seismic performances and the desired ductile global behaviour, bottom zones of the concrete wall might experience undesired damages. Starting from the first proposed SP-HCW, in this study a new solution for its base is presented and preliminary investigated, i.e., the wall is designed as pinned at the base and equipped with additional vertical dissipative devices. In this way, this new configuration is expected to achieve lower damage of the wall without reducing its dissipative capacity. In this article the results of preliminary pushover analyses are discussed to evaluate the expected performances of the proposed structural solution. Abstract Hybrid steel-concrete structures used as earthquake-resistant systems are an interesting solution for buildings in seismic prone areas, combining in effective ways the benefits of concrete and steel. In this context, an innovative single-pier hybrid coupled wall (SP-HCW), made of a single reinforced concrete wall coupled to two steel side columns by means of steel link, was recently proposed. The system is conceived to reduce the damage in the reinforced concrete wall while concentrating dissipation to the replaceable links. Although the numerical analyses for this innovative solution showed encouraging seismic performances and the desired ductile global behaviour, bottom zones of the concrete wall might experience undesired damages. Starting from the first proposed SP-HCW, in this study a new solution for its base is presented and preliminary investigated, i.e., the wall is designed as pinned at the base and equipped with additional vertical dissipative devices. In this way, this new configuration is expected to achieve lower damage of the wall without reducing its dissipative capacity. In this article the results of preliminary pushover analyses are discussed to evaluate the expected performances of the proposed structural solution.