Optimised rotational-spring component-based modelling strategy for seismic resistant steel-concrete composite joints and frames with continuous or isolated slab

Joints and frames in steel-concrete composite systems represent complex mechanical assemblies that require specific calculation procedures to optimise their detailing and structural capacity, particularly under seismic loads. To this aim, component-based modelling approaches should be able to account for the most relevant mechanisms and resistance/stiffness behaviours of individual members, and their mutual interaction. In this paper, two different simplified non-linear approaches are considered for steel-concrete composite beam-to-column joints, and are specifically applied to a seismic resistant case-study frame with X-concentric bracings. Both beam-to-column joints with or continuous (“JA” joint) or fully isolated (“JB” joint) slab are examined. First, non-linear axial springs are assembled and calibrated on the base of a previous study (“Type 1″ model (“T1″)), according to force-displacement relationships proposed in the DPC-ReLUIS Italian guidelines. Successively, a novel modelling approach based on non-linear rotational springs is presented (“Type 2″ model (“T2″)), to further simplify the computational cost of T1 strategy, and allow to efficiently account for the moment-rotation behaviour of the examined joints. The preliminary numerical validation is carried out based on past literature experiments. Moreover, the optimized T2 approach is used to explore the in-plane lateral, seismic performance of a 2D steel-concrete composite frame, which is specifically designed with X-concentric bracings. The seismic capacity of the frame (and the associated interaction of components, especially the joint zone with the bracing system) is addressed on the base of pushover analyses.