City Research Online

Abstract

The context of the ongoing climate emergency has highlighted the pressing challenge of achieving a resilient and sustainable built environment. Steel modular building systems (MBSs) have gained a lot of traction due to noteworthy opportunities for disassembly and reuse harnessed by prefabrication, standardisation, and the use of demountable connections, yet research has shown that the seismic resilience of steel MBSs remains problematic. In this regard, the present study investigated the in-plane structural response to cyclic lateral loading of an inter-module joint (IMJ) prototype equipped with a hybrid inter-module connection (IMC) comprising of a high-damping rubber (HDR) bearing and a high-strength steel (HSS) bolt. The FEMA-SAC cyclic loading sequence was conducted in a quasi-static fashion on a meso-scale IMJ subassemblage to understand the effect of the HDR bearing on seismic performance of the joint under seismic action, by revealing its lateral load capacity, deformation modes, and energy dissipation capacity. The recentring effect of the joint due to the HDR bearing was confirmed by the large recoverable displacement identified in the force-displacement, which came at the expense of higher EDC capacity. The IMJ prototype reached the end of the loading programme with 85% of the peak strength and limited plastic damage sustained by the frame members, meeting the qualifying drift angle capacity at strength degradation (θSD = 0.04 rad) for a special moment frame (SMF). Overall, it was shown that the hybrid IMC the hybrid IMC fulfilled its passive damage control role by delaying the full contribution of the IMJ frame members until large storey drift amplitudes were reached, effectively improving the reclaim and reuse opportunities in the event of an earthquake for the next-generation, sustainable and resilient steel MBSs.

Publication Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Additional Information:	This paper will be presented at the World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (WCEE 2024).
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) T Technology > TH Building construction
Departments:	School of Science & Technology School of Science & Technology > Engineering
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

Export

Downloads