Effect of Column Base Behavior on Seismic Performance of Multi-Story Steel Moment Resisting Frames

Column base is one of the most important elements of steel structures. Exposed column base is commonly used in low-to-medium-rise steel moment resisting frames because of better constructability and low cost. To study the effect of exposed column base behavior on the seismic behavior of low-to-medium-rise steel moment resisting frames, a four-story, four-bay steel moment frame is studied by the nonlinear time history analysis. In the numerical analysis, two types of column base connections (rigid and semi-rigid) are considered. The width–thickness ratio of column and stiffness ratio of column base to column are chosen as the analysis parameters. The characteristics of structural responses, hysteresis loops, and the distribution of plastic energy dissipation are compared. It indicates that the collapse margin ratio is significantly increased when the exposed column base behavior is considered for the moment resisting frames with large width–thickness ratio. Moreover, if the column base connection is allowed to rotate and transfer a portion of the moment, the demand of plastic deformation capacity of steel columns is reduced, then subsequently strength deterioration caused by the local buckling at the bottom of column could be avoided. Also, the whole structure has a better ductility, the ability of plastic deformation and energy absorbance of the moment resisting frame under earthquake are therefore enhanced. The structure with the semi-rigid column base connection has larger potential to avoid the structural collapse caused by the local buckling of first_story columns.