This study presents the details of the experimental investigations on new I-beam to I-column connection with dissipative fuse links, which is developed to dissipate seismic energy in moment frames during strong earthquakes. The novel fuse link beam-column connection consisting of two replaceable fuse links and a standard shear tab. Fuse link is made-up of fuse, vertical and external plates arranged to form lattice structure. Fuse plates are the primary energy dissipating element, which are designed such that the beam-column connection undergo inelastic action while retaining the primary members in elastic state.
The experimental programme consists of four component level tests on fuse plate and eight full-scale exterior beam-column joint sub-assemblage tests under monotonic and cyclic loading. Component level experiments are carried out to understand the effect of slenderness on the number of cycles required to fracture the fuse plates under reversed cyclic loading. Thus, fuse plate survivability for the cyclic loading protocol as recommended in ANSI/AISC 341-16 is verified first. Subsequently, full-scale experimental investigations on joint subassemblages are carried out by varying parameters like depth of fuse links, position of vertical plate within the fuse link, level of bolt pretension, and rate of loading. The developed beam-column connection exhibited good energy dissipation characteristics, while confining inelastic action within the fuse links, while retaining the primary structural members in elastic state. Thus, the same column and beam sections are used for all the experiments on subassemblages; damage is not observed except of bolt thread marks in beams. Also, dismantling of the damaged fuse links was found to be easy enough taking about 10 minutes per link. Finally, non-linear static analyses are carried out on 9- and 20-storey moment frames with fuse link beam-column connection, which is designed based on the developed analytical equations. Based on the analyses, good overall seismic performance is observed of the moment frames. Thus, the new beam-column connection is found to be qualified for use in special moment resisting frames as it satisfies the requirements of seismic design codes (e.g., ANSI/AISC 341-16).