Evaluation Of The Seismic Performance Factors For Hybrid Coupled Core Wall Systems With Steel Fuse Coupling Beams

Coupled core wall systems with steel coupling beams are effective seismic force resisting systems to resist structural collapse. A typical coupling beam shear wall system would dissipate energy through the formation of plastic hinges at the coupling beam-wall interface. These plastic hinges would damage the coupling beam, requiring an infeasible and uneconomical repair involving the replacement of the beam embedded in the concrete wall pier. However, research at the University of Cincinnati has introduced a weak-link section (the fuse) at the mid-span of the coupling beam that will dissipate energy through shear yielding, leading to the development and modification of the steel fuse coupling beams. This would allow the plasticity at the face of the wall to be shifted to the mid-span of the coupling beam, requiring a feasible and economical repair involving only the replacement of the fuse at mid-span.