Effectiveness of a Design Procedure for Linked Column Framed Systems in the Framework of Eurocodes

The linked column frame system is gaining attention within the scientific community as it represents a seismic resilient structural type. It consists of a primary resisting system provided with dual columns connected by replaceable links, and a secondary resisting system provided with moment resisting frames. In this paper a recently proposed design procedure, formulated in the framework of the upcoming version of Eurocodes, is applied to 4 and 6-storey buildings. The seismic response of these structures is determined by nonlinear incremental dynamic analysis and the performance is assessed by means of a damage index of links and beams and by means of a stability index of columns and maximum interstorey drifts. The results of the numerical analyses are used to identify values of the behavior factors suitable for the design of these systems.