Studies on Moment-Resisting Fuse Link Beam-To-Column Connection for Seismic Resilient Steel Moment Frame Buildings

This paper presents the details of numerical investigations on exterior beam-to-column joint sub-assemblage, using a fuse link connection, under cyclic loading. The fuse link beam-to-column connection is developed to act as structural fuse in the event of strong earthquakes, thereby preventing collapse of buildings to ensure occupant safety and also enables rehabilitation of such buildings after a strong earthquake. The fuse link connection consists of two fuse links, which connect the beam to the column flanges and one standard shear tab, which connects the beam web and column flange. The developed connection confines the inelasticity within the fuse links and limits damage in the primary members, standard shear tab and the connecting bolts. To demonstrate the behaviour of the developed fuse link connection, numerical studies are carried out on exterior fuse link beam-to-column joint sub-assemblages. Numerical model is validated using results of full-scale experimental investigations, with focus on both global and local component’s behaviour, to demonstrate the efficiency of developed models. Further, it is demonstrated that the inelastic actions are concentrated only in the fuse links as envisaged at the design stage.