Numerical analysis of short link steel eccentrically braced frames under seismic action

Eccentrically braced frames are well known for their capacity of dissipating seismic energy by plastic hinge formation in the so called ‘link elements’, which represent the dissipative devices of the eccentrically braced frame. The link element can be short, which means it will be mainly subjected to shear forces; long being mainly subjected to bending moment or intermediate in length subjected to a combined action of shear force-bending moment. The current study is focused on the calibration of existing experimental results with numerical finite element models of steel eccentrically braced frames with short link elements and a subsequent parametrical study considering different link lengths and multiple stiffeners along the link web panel.