Practical use of dissipative connections in high rise frames with concentric bracings

A quantitative comparison of two 15 storey high framesdesigned to resist a 0.4g PGAhas been made: one frame corresponds to a standard design in which connections of diagonals are capacity designed to the diagonal sections and the other one uses dissipative connections at the diagonals ends. The structures are designed by a standard elastic procedure under reduced forces. Pushover analysis and non linear dynamic analyses are then performed to assess the real behavior and performance of the structures. The advantages of using dissipative connections are confirmed in a high rise flexible building.