Low-Damage Design Using a Gravity Rocking Moment Connection

A novel low-damage connection for steel column, timber beam multistorey moment frame buildings is being developed. The connection uses gravity load acting at an eccentricity to the column centre line for moment resistance and self-centring. There is built-in friction damping for energy dissipation. Beams and columns are continuous past the joint, resulting in minimal damage to the floor. 1: 20 scale shake table tests have shown expected low-damage, self-centring behaviour. A SAP2000 model with friction isolators for support point gap opening and friction sliding behaviour is presented. The SAP2000 model simulates peak drift well but is stiffer than the test model at low drift levels.