Parametric Study and Finite Element Modelling of Damage-Free Self-centring Column Bases with Different Structural Properties

Many recent research studies have focused on the development of innovative seismic-resilient structural systems to reduce repair costs and downtime in the aftermath of severe earthquake events. In this regard, dealing with steel Moment Resisting Frames (MRFs), recent experimental and numerical studies have demonstrated the benefits deriving from the replacement of conventional full-strength column bases (CBs) with innovative damage-free and self-centring CBs, for both damage and residual drifts reductions. Although several technologies have been conceived, studied, and experimentally tested in this direction, only a few research studies investigated the significant properties of the connections influencing the self-centring capability of these systems. Focusing on a damage-free self-centring steel CB previously investigated by the authors, the present study performs a parametric analysis to evaluate the influence of some design parameters on the seismic performance of steel Moment Resisting Frames (MRFs). Three CB configurations belonging to different case-study MRFs are investigated. Finite element (FE) models of the CB configurations have been designed and developed in the ABAQUS, considering sixteen different cases for each configuration. The FE analysis confirms the effectiveness of the theoretical design methodology and provides additional insights to improve the design requirements.