Tenth U.S.

National Conference on Earthquake Engineering

Frontiers of Earthquake Engineering
July 21-25, 2014
10NCEE Anchorage, Alaska

CYCLIC BEHAVIOR OF STEEL SHEAR

LINKS USED IN REPLACEABLE
COUPLING BEAMS
X. Ji1, Q. Ma2, Y. Wang3 and T. Okazaki4

ABSTRACT

The use of replaceable coupling beams provides a solution to minimize the time and expenses of
post-damage repair for building structures. In this paper, a central steel shear link was used in
the replaceable coupling beam as a “fuse” in which all inelastic deformations and damage are
supposed to be concentrated. These steel shear links commonly use a built-up shape and have a
length ratio shorter than 1.0. Low yield steel is recommended to be used for the shear link to
advance yielding and increase inelastic deformation capacity. The objective of this paper is to
examine the cyclic behavior of the steel shear links through an experimental program, where ten
specimens were tested subjected to cyclic loading. The test variables included the steel type for
web, length ratio and stiffener configuration. The link specimens showed two types of failure
modes, i.e., link web fracture and fracture at the weld connecting link flange to end plate. The
overstrength factors of the link specimens reached approximately 1.9, significantly higher than a
value of 1.5 traditionally used for design of shear links in eccentrically braced frames (EBFs).
LY225 steel web and Q235 steel web did not make an obvious difference on the overstrength of
the links. Besides, statistical analysis of a large volume of test data on shear links indicated that
the built-up links with a length ratio less than 1.0 could generate an overstrength factor
significantly exceeding 1.5. The link specimens had an inelastic rotation of approximately 0.15
rad, much larger than 0.08 rad required by the AISC 341-10 provisions. Using LY225 steel
instead of Q235 steel for web could increase the inelastic rotation of the links by 22% and the
cumulative plastic rotation by 52%.

1
Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijng 100084, China
2
Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijng 100084, China
3
Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijng 100084, China
4
Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
 CYCLIC BEHAVIOR OF STEEL SHEAR LINKS USED IN
REPLACEABLE COUPLING BEAMS

X. Ji 1 , Q. Ma2, Y. Wang3 and T. Okazaki4

ABSTRACT

The use of replaceable coupling beams provides a solution to minimize the time and expenses of
post-damage repair, thus improving the resiliency of building structures against seismic hazards.
In this paper, the steel shear links with a length ratio shorter than 1.0, which are used in the
replaceable coupling beam, were tested subjected to cyclic loading. The test variables included the
steel type of web, length ratio, and stiffener configuration. The link specimens showed two types
of failure modes, i.e., link web fracture and fracture at the weld connecting link flange to endplate.
The overstrength factors of the link specimens reached approximately 1.9, in line with statistical
analysis of a large volume of test data indicating that the built-up links with a length ratio less than
1.0 could generate an overstrength factor significantly exceeding 1.5. The link specimens had an
inelastic rotation of approximately 0.15 rad. Using LY225 steel instead of Q235 steel for web
could increase the inelastic rotation of the links by 22% and the cumulative plastic rotation by
52%.

1．Introduction

Steel coupling beams can offer a very high degree of ductility and excellent energy dissipation.
However, post-damage repair of the steel coupling beams can be costly in both expenses and
time. Development of coupling beams featured with additional replaceable “fuse” elements
provides a solution for quick rehabilitation after earthquakes (Fortney et al. 2007), thus
improving the resiliency of building structures against seismic hazards.
This paper presents a type of replaceable steel coupling beam, a central “fuse” shear link,
connecting to normal steel segments at its two ends (see Fig.1). During a severe earthquake,
inelastic deformation and damage concentrate in the “fuse” shear link, while the normal steel

1
Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijng 100084, China
2
Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijng 100084, China
3
Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijng 100084, China
4
Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
segments remain in elastic state. Extensive studies in the literature indicate that a properly
detailed shear link can provide stable, ductile and predictable behavior under cyclic loading. In
the past tests, the shear links were used for eccentrically braced frames (EBFs) and they mostly
had a length ratio (i.e., e/(Mp/Vp)) of over 1.0. However, the short span of coupling beams and
necessity to limit the fuse weight for replacement requires the use of shorter shear links for
coupling beams. In addition, low-yield steel is recommended for the shear links to advance
yielding and increase inelastic deformation capacity. In this paper, a series of cyclic tests are
discussed which examined the cyclic behavior of the shear links with a length ratio of less than
1.0. The test results are described, including the failure mode, hysteretic responses, and force and
deformation capacities.

Figure 1. Replaceable steel coupling beam

2．Experimental Program

2.1 Test specimens

The specimens represented the shear links used as the replaceable portion of the steel coupling
beams in the core-wall of a high-rise building, and were fabricated at 3/5 scale to accommodate
the capacity of the loading facility. Fig. 2 shows the geometry and details of the specimens. The
shear links were built-up I-shape sections and the cross-sectional dimensions were the same for
all shear links. The flanges and web were welded together by complete joint penetration (CJP)
groove welds. The stiffeners were full depth, welded to the web and to both flanges using fillet
welds. The shear links were welded to heavy end plates at each end. All the CJP groove welds
were performed by a flux-cored-arc welding process with E50 electrodes. The welds were
qualified by ultrasonic testing and magnetic particle testing. Charpy V-note (CVN) toughness of
the weld was 170.6 J at 21 °C and 111.1 J at -29 °C. To delay fracture in the web at the region
where the flange-to-web CJP groove weld and the fillet welds of the stiffeners meet, the vertical
fillet welds of the intermediate web stiffeners were terminated at a distance of five times the web
thickness from the flange-to-web weld.
 50
400
800
300

(a) Specimen L11, Q11 (b) Specimen L12, Q12

500
1
440 30

8
2 8 2
180
1
1-1
500

2-2
(c) Specimen L13, Q13 (d) Specimen L21, Q21 (e) Specimen L22, Q22
Figure.2 Test specimens

The flanges of the shear links were made of Q345 steel (nominal yield stress fy = 345 MPa),
and the stiffeners of Q235 steel (fy = 235 MPa). The webs for the specimens with “Q” in the
nomenclature were made of Q235 steel, while those for the specimens with “L” in the
nomenclature were made of low-yield steel LY225 (fy = 225 MPa). The measured material
properties of steel by tensile coupon tests are summarized in Table 1. The measured yield
strength of LY225 steel was 18% lower than that of Q235 steel, while its elongation was 23%
higher than that of Q235 steel.
Table 1 Material properties for steel

Steel Thickness Yield strength Ultimate strength Elongation

Plate fu/fy
Type t (mm) fy (MPa) fu (MPa) (%)

Q345 Flange 14 319 479 1.50 41.9

LY225 Web 10 228 330 1.45 54.0
Q235 Web 10 273 416 1.52 44.4
Q235 Stiffener 10 281 432 1.54 43.1

Table 2 summarizes the design parameters of the specimens. The length of shear links was
440 and 660mm, corresponding to the length ratio of approximately 0.9 and 0.6 respectively. The
link length ratios were less than 1.6 and, therefore, shear behavior was expected to dominate the
response. The width-to-thickness ratio of the link flanges and the depth-to-thickness ratio of the
web satisfied the requirement specified in the AISC 341-10 provisions.
Table 2 Summary of design parameters of the specimens
Link length Flange compactness Web compactness Stiffener configuration
Specimen Web
One side or both Spacing
No. steel e/mm e/(Mp/Vp) bf/(2tf) 0.38 E / f y hc/tw 2.45 E / f y
sides of web (mm)
L11 660 0.87 6.1 9.1 37.2 73 2 220
L12 660 0.87 6.1 9.1 37.2 73 1 220
L13 LY225 660 0.87 6.1 9.1 37.2 73 2 330
L21 440 0.58 6.1 9.1 37.2 73 2 220
L22 440 0.58 6.1 9.1 37.2 73 1 220
Q11 660 0.97 6.1 9.1 37.2 71 2 220
Q12 660 0.97 6.1 9.1 37.2 71 1 220
Q13 Q235 660 0.97 6.1 9.1 37.2 71 2 330
Q21 440 0.64 6.1 9.1 37.2 71 2 220
Q22 440 0.64 6.1 9.1 37.2 71 1 220

In accordance with the AISC 341-10 provisions, the intermediate web stiffeners of the shear
links shall be spaced at intervals not exceeding (30tw-d/5), where tw is the web thickness and d is
the link depth. Most specimens were provided with the intermediate web stiffeners spaced at
220mm, which is equal to the AISC 341-10 limit. However, increase of stiffener spacing might
be permissible if the shear links are made by low-yield steel and uses a low web compactness
ratio (Dusicka et al 2010). The stiffeners for Specimens L13 and Q13 (Fig.2(c)) were
intentionally designed with the increased spacing of 1.5·(30tw-d/5)=330mm, in order to
investigate the possibility of relaxing the limit for stiffener spacing. Specimens L12 & Q12 and
L22 & Q22 (Fig.2(b) and 2(e), respectively), were designed with stiffeners on one side of the
web only. Other specimens had stiffeners on both sides of the web. Note that the AISC 341-10
provisions allow shear links with a depth less than 635mm to use stiffeners on only one side of
the web.

2.2 Test setup and instrumentation

Fig. 3 shows the test setup. The end plates of the shear links were bolted into the setup, between
the loading beam and foundation beam. The rotation at the ends of the shear link and the torsion
of the links were fully restrained. The cyclic loading in shear was displacement-controlled and
the loading protocol specified by AISC 341-10 for testing EBF links-to-column connections was
used in the test. The test was terminated when the shear strength of the specimen decreased by
more than 15% of its peak load. Instrumentation was used to measure the shear load,
displacement and strains of the specimens.
 Figure 3 Test Setup

3．Experimental Result

3.1 Failure mode

Four types of damage were observed: i) web buckling, ii) stiffener-to-flange weld fracture, iii)
web fracture, and iv) flange-to-end plate weld fracture. The development of the latter two types
of damage caused the failure of the specimens, as shown in Fig. 4. The web fracture initiated at
the location of termination of the fillet welds connecting the stiffeners to the web, which is
consistent with the past observations in McDaniel et al. (2003) and Okazaki et al. (2005 and
2007). The fracture then propagated along the stiffness-to-web weld, and finally tore the web
apart. The flange-to-end plate weld fracture was caused by low-cycle fatigue of cyclic loading
and local bending. Table 3 summarizes the damage process and failure mode of the specimens. It
is notable that web buckling occurred earlier and developed faster in Specimens L13 and Q13
compared with other specimens which strictly adhered to the stiffener spacing limit.

Flange
Web
plate
Fracture

Fracture

Stiffener
End plate

(a) Web fracture (b) Flange-to-end plate weld fracture

Figure 4 Photographs of failure modes of the specimens
 Table 3 Summary of test results
Rotation at damage occurrence (rad) Failure
Stiffene-to- Flange-to- Inelastic
Specimen Web Overstrength
Web Rotation
No. flange weld end plate Failure mode factor
buckling fracture (rad)
fracture weld fracture
Flange-to-end plate weld
L11 0.11 0.13 0.15 0.15 0.15 1.88
failure
L12 0.08 0.11 0.09 0.19 Web failure 0.19 1.87
L13 0.07 0.13 — — Web failure 0.17 1.65
Flange-to-end plate weld
L21 0.11 0.11 0.13 0.15 0.15 2.04
failure
L22 0.13 0.13 — 0.15 Web failure 0.19 2.03
Flange-to-end plate weld
Q11 0.09 0.11 — 0.13 0.13 1.87
failure
Flange-to-end plate weld
Q12 0.09 0.11 — 0.13 0.15 1.84
failure
Q13 0.07 0.11 — — Web failure 0.13 1.64
Q21 0.11 0.09 0.15 0.13 Web failure 0.15 1.99
Q22 0.09 0.09 0.11 0.13 Web failure 0.15 1.91

3.2 Hysteretic behavior

Fig.5 shows the hysteretic responses of the specimens. Two values of the plastic strength are
indicated in each figure. The nominal value of plastic strength (Vn) was calculated per the AISC
341-10 provisions, using the nominal dimensions and nominal yield strength of the specimens,
while the measured value of plastic strength (Vp) was based on the measured dimensions and
measured yield strength.
The specimens that strictly adhered to the stiffener spacing limit showed very stable
hysteretic loops under large cyclic loading. However, Specimens L13 and Q13 exhibited a drop
in stregnth after the rotation angle of 0.10 rad was reached (see Fig.7(e) and 7(j)). The
phenomenon was caused by remarkable development of web buckling, and an obvious sudden
drop of strength correlated to the reversal of buckling direction.
Shear force V (kN)

(a) L11 (b) L12

 (c) L13 (d) L21
Shear force V (kN)

(e) L22 (f) Q11

1200
900
600 Vp
Vn
300
0
-300
Vn
-600 Vp
-900
-1200
-0.2 -0.16 -0.12 -0.08 -0.04 0 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.2
Inelastic rotation γp (rad)

(g) Q12 (h) Q13

(i) Q21 (j) Q22

Fig. 5 Hysteretic responses of the specimens

3.3 Overstrength

The overstrength factor of the specimens, which is defined as the ratio of maximum strength over
the measured plastic strength, is listed in Table 3. The average overstrength of the specimens that
strictly adhered to the stiffener spacing limit was 1.9, which is larger than a value of 1.5 as
suggested by Popov and Engelhardt (1988). Very small difference was observed between
overstrengh factors of the specimens from Q235 and LY225 steel web. The overstrength of
Specimen L13 and Q13 was 1.65 and 1.64, respectively, which is 13% smaller that the
specimens that adhered to the stiffener spacing limit. In the two specimens, early development
and progression of web buckling deformation counteracted strain hardening effects.
A large volume of test data on 115 shear links were collected from the publications by
Hjelmstad and Popov (1983), Malley and Popov (1984), Kasai and Popov (1986), Ricles and
Popov (1986), Engelhardt and Popov (1989), Ramadan and Ghobarah (1995), McDaniel et al.
(2003), Kasai et al. (2004), Okazaki and Engelhardt (2007), Dusicka et al. (2010) and Mansour et
al. (2011). Fig.6 shows the overstrength factors of the past test data and the test data of this paper.
The figure indicates that the overstrength values measured in this test was in agreement with that
reported in the literature. The values of overstrength factor suggested by Popov and Engelhardt
(1988) are plotted as well. The suggested values appear to be appropriate for the shear links with
a length ratio of over 1.0. However, the shear links with a length ratio less than 1.0 could
generate an overstrength factor significantly larger than the suggested value of 1.5. A similar
finding was obtained in McDaniel et al (2003).

Figure 6 Overstrength factors of shear link tests

3.4 Deformation capacity

Fig.7 shows the envelope curves of the rotation versus shear force relationship of the specimens.
All specimens experienced an obvious hardening after the yield strength. Specimens L13 and
Q13, which had increased stiffener spacing, showed the strength deterioration once the inelastic
rotation reached 0.08 rad. The link specimens developed an inelastic rotation capacity of 0.15 rad
on average, which was nearly twice the 0.08 rad required in the AISC 341-10 provisions. The
inelastic rotation of the specimens with LY225 steel web was approximately 22% larger than that
of the specimens with Q235 steel web.
 (a) LY225 web links (b) Q235 web links
Figure 7 Envelope curves of shear force versus rotation angle relationship of test specimens

Fig. 8 shows the cumulative plastic rotation (∑γp) of the specimens. Different types of web
steel significantly affected the cumulative plastic rotation of the shear links. The average
cumulative plastic rotation of the specimens with LY225 steel web (3.86 rad) was 52.0% larger
than that of the specimens with Q235 steel web (2.54 rad). However, the stiffener configuration
made only limited influence on the cumulative plastic deformation capacity of the shear links.

Figure 9 Cumulative plastic rotation

4．Conclusions

In this paper, a series of cyclic tests were conducted on the shear links used for replaceable
coupling beams. Major findings from the study are summarized as follows:
1. The overstrength factors of the link specimens reached approximately 1.9. Although this is
much greater than the value of 1.5 suggested in the AISC 341-10 provisions, the value is in line
with a large volume of test data reported in the literature.
2. The link specimens had an inelastic rotation capacity of approximately 0.15 rad,
significantly larger than the 0.08 rad implied in the AISC 341-10 provisions.
3. Using LY225 or Q235 steel did not make a significant difference on the overstrength
factor of the shear links. However, using LY225 steel instead of Q235 steel for web increased the
inelastic rotation of the links by 22% and the cumulative plastic rotation by 52%.
4. The specimens whose stiffener spacing followed the AISC 314-10 requirement had stable
hysteretic responses and large inelastic deformation capacity, while the specimens with increased
stiffener spacing showed earlier web buckling and strength degradation after 0.08 rad inelastic
rotation. Interestingly, the specimens that violated the stiffener spacing limit by 50% successfully
developed the plastic rotation capacity implied in the AISC 341-10 provisions.

Acknowledgments

The work presented in this paper was sponsored by the National Key Technology R&D Program
of China (No. 2012BAJ07B01). The writers wish to express their sincere gratitude to the
sponsor.

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