Numerical Evaluation of Steel Moment Resisting Frames with Improved Shear Performance by Slitting Middle of the Beam

The aim of this paper is to investigate a new energy dissipating system in steel moment resisting frames using finite element method, namely, slitted moment resisting frame system. Moment resisting frames are considered as one the most favorable novel lateral force resisting system. However, the minimum requirement of the beam span to depth ratio, to form the plastic hinges at the two ends of the beam to satisfy. By placing a sheer fuse in the middle of the beam, the flexural plastic hinges are transferred to the middle of the beam through nonlinear shear behavior. Therefore, shear fuse yielding precedes flexural yielding at the two ends of the beam and consequently the proposed system satisfies the code limitations. The fuse is a part of the beam, which, by entering into the nonlinear behavior, prevents other part of the beam from entering into the nonlinear behavior. Numerical models of the proposed system are developed in ABAQUS and are compared against the experimental results.