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Gregor D Fischer

Victor C Li

A collapse-resistant frame system ( ) for a bridge or building structure includes a plurality of mechanically-interconnected columns ( ) and beams ( ). At least the lowermost columns are formed of a material ( ) that exhibits quasi-elastic behavior in response to seismic excitation, while the beams of the frame system are formed of a material ( ) that exhibits elastic/plastic behavior, such that quasi-elastic flexure of the columns under seismic loading will cause plastic hinge formation in the beam ends ( ) to thereby dissipate the rotational energy without significant plastic hinge formation in the column bases. In a disclosed embodiment, the column material is an engineered cementitious composite (ECC) matrix ( ) reinforced with fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) ( ) to thereby provide a relatively-high flexural strength member having a relatively-lower flexural stiffness and higher elastic deformation limit, while the beam material is an ECC matrix reinforced with mild steel rebar ( ) to thereby provide a relatively-lower flexural strength member featuring high energy-absorbing capacity.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Gregor D Fischer