Seismic design and assessment of steel-concrete frame structures with welded dissipative fuses

This research presents the design and numerical assessment of composite steel-concrete frame structures with welded dissipative fuses. The assessment has been carried out based on linear response spectrum, nonlinear static pushover and time history procedures. The analytical expressions which define the envelope of the nonlinear response of the dissipative fuses are first presented and calibrated against experimental results available in literature. The assessment is then carried out according to a design methodology proposed herein. Outcomes of the numerical assessment indicate that the use of welded dissipative fuses successfully limited damage within the replaceable parts. Furthermore, although structures with dissipative fuses present lower strength and, generally, lower displacement capacity, their displacement ductility and global dissipative performance are generally higher than conventional structures, especially when the structure with dissipative fuses presents a dissipative configuration adjusted to the bending moment distribution diagram calculated for the applied seismic action.