Seismic Behavior of Eccentrically Braced Frames with Composite Vertical Shear Link (CV-EBFs)

This paper is an experimental study on the behavior of vertical shear link in the normal (steel section with and without stiffener) and composite (steel section with concrete is located the area limited to web and flanges of the section) configurations. There have been four specimens selected for examining the effects of different details. The first specimen was an I section with no stiffener, while the second specimen composed of I section with stiffeners designed according to AISC 2005. Third and fourth specimens were composed of I section with reinforced concrete located at the area between its flanges and web..The tests carried out were of quasi-static kind and conducted on a full scale. The comments on composite links are at first, explained in details and construction method, loading and test are then expressed. The details rendered for composite vertical link have been in such a way that the results obtained show remarkable increase in its shear capacity and ductility.