Collapse-resistant frame system for structures

摘要

A collapse-resistant frame system (10) for a bridge or building structure includes a plurality of mechanically-interconnected columns (12) and beams (14). At least the lowermost columns are formed of a material (28) that exhibits quasi-elastic behavior in response to seismic excitation, while the beams of the frame system are formed of a material (22) that exhibits elastic/plastic behavior, such that quasi-elastic flexure of the columns under seismic loading will cause plastic hinge formation in the beam ends (26) to thereby dissipate the rotational energy without significant plastic hinge formation in the column bases. In a disclosed embodiment, the column material is an engineered cementitious composite (ECC) matrix (30) reinforced with fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) (32) to thereby provide a relatively-high flexural strength member having a relatively-lower flexural stiffness and higher elastic deformation limit, while the beam material is an ECC matrix reinforced with mild steel rebar (34) to thereby provide a relatively-lower flexural strength member featuring high energy-absorbing capacity.