ABSTRACT
Steel eccentrically braced frames (EBFs) designed according to the latest seismic design specification are expected to sustain damage during a design level earthquake through repeated inelastic deformation and localized buckling. It is difficult to assess the extent of this damage since no measure of the cumulative inelastic action that has taken place during an earthquake is usually possible. Repair is therefore expected to be costly and disruptive, even if the structure has met its goal of providing life safety during an earthquake. The replaceable link concept, presented in Mansour et al. (2008), addresses these drawbacks by introducing ductile links at the locations of expected inelastic action. It allows for independent control of beam stiffness and required strength, resulting in more efficient structures; it allows welding of critical elements to be done in the shop, considerably improving construction quality and reducing erection time; and it allows for quick inspection and replacement of damaged links following a major earthquake, significantly minimizing the disruption time of the structure.
