The Effect of Exposed Base Plates on the Seismic Response of Steel Moment Resisting Frames

Maryia Markhvida Supervisor: Prof. Dimitrios G. Lignos Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics , McGill University
1. 2. 3. 4. Develop a comprehensive dataset for exposed column base plate connections Develop and calibrate a simulation model to replicate the behavior of exposed column base plate connections subjected to earthquake loading Perform statistical analyses of calibrated parameters and base plate connection details Determine the effect of base plate connections on the global seismic performance of steel moment resisting frames

Exposed column bases transfer gravity and seismic loads from a structure into its foundations. Field observations from earthquake damage have confirmed that these connections may be significantly flexible under applied moments even when they are designed as fixed.

In order to model the behavior of exposed column bases, data from previous experiments was collected. This database includes: Exposed Based Plate Loading Conditions Base Plate Specifications Concrete Foundation and Grout Layer Details Anchor Rod Specifications Connection Weld Details Classification of Exposed Base Plate Failure Modes Fully Digitized Moment Rotation Histories

Rotational Stiffness:

Yield Moment:

Figure 1: Typical base plate connection configuration (Source: Aviram et al. 2010)

The damage evaluation of exposed column bases subjected to earthquakes has lead to a classification of their failure modes (see Fig. 2)
a) b) c)

An analytical model was developed and calibrated with every specimen in the database in order to determine the following input model parameters: Rotational Stiffness, Ke Yield Moment, My Post-Yield Stiffness, Kp Capping Deformation, c Post-Capping Stiffness, Kc Ultimate Deformation, u Unloading Moment, unl

Figure 4: Parameter comparison with existing equations (Equations from Hitaka, 2005; Takamatsu, 2005)

Once the statistical analysis is completed, the developed column base model will be implemented into the Open Source simulation platform OpenSees, in order to assess the collapse risk of steel momentresisting frames subjected to earthquake loading (see Fig. 5).
2.5

Gravity Frame

Moment-Resisting Frame
Sa (T1, 5%) [g]

1.5

column weld tearing d)

grout damage e)

anchor bolt failure

0.5

Base Plate Connection Modeling

0 0

concrete spalling

base plate deformation

0.05 0.1 Maximum Story Drift Ratio [rad]

0.15

Figure 5: Collapse evaluation of low rise steel moment resisting frames

Figure 2: Possible failure modes (Source: Gomez, 2009)

Objective: Investigate exposed column bases with an anchor bolt yielding critical design. This failure mode may improve the seismic performance of steel moment frames due to the self-centering ability of the exposed column base.

Figure 3: Calibration examples (Data from Takamatsu, 2005; Choi, 2003)

Prof. Taichiro Okazaki and Dr. T. Yamanishi (TIT). The financial support from NSERC and the SURE program is greatly appreciated.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Award