CYCLIC AND SEISMIC RESPONSE OF FLEXIBLY JOINTED FRAMES

A model simulating the hysteretic M-theta(r) behaviour of flexible joi nts under cyclic and dynamic loading conditions is presented. This mod el requires four parameters to describe. These parameters can be evalu ated using existing test data for different types of connections. The proposed model has been cast into a two-node zero length connection el ement and used to model the nonlinear response of flexibly jointed fra mes. It is shown that the presence of flexible joints alters the vibra tion characteristics of the structure. Depending on the excitation fre quency, the presence of flexible joints can either dampen or magnify t he structural response.