Enhancing seismic resilience using truss girder frame systems with supplemental devices

• We introduce a new seismically resistant framing system called truss-girder frames.
• Energy-based methodology results in efficient design of TGFs.
• Energy dissipating devices with re-centering capability improves seismic resilience.
• Re-centering devices in TGFs significantly reduces residual interstory drifts.
• Damage to structural elements can be avoided in specially detailed TGFs.

An innovative configuration of a Special Truss Girder Frame (TGF) is proposed to facilitate the use of supplemental devices, such as Buckling Restrained Braces (BRBs) and re-centering devices. An energy-based design methodology is adopted such that the devices are designed to provide sufficient energy dissipation capacity with respect to the seismic input energy demand on the structure. The energy based methodology is demonstrated to be accurate by means of a series of nonlinear response history analyses (nRHA). The overall seismic response of the proposed system is evaluated in terms of story displacement, interstory drifts, story shears, overturning moments, and efficiency with respect to the dissipated energy. The proposed configuration and design methodology achieve predictable seismic response with efficient utilization of devices. Furthermore, damage to structural elements is largely mitigated; hence, allowing damage avoidance design of TGF systems, and residual displacements can be mitigated through the use of re-centering devices.