Non-Linear Behavior of Hollow-Section Short Links in EBF Steel Frames

Eccentrically braced frames are widely adopted in seismic-prone regions due to their elastic and inelastic performance. In these structural systems, seismic energy is dissipated by the link through shear or flexural plastic deformations, depending on whether short or long links are employed. This study aims to investigate the performance of rectangular hollow steel profiles used as short links in EBFs and assess their compliance with the design requirements specified in the incoming second-generation Eurocode 8. To this end, the structural performance of twenty-two short links made of European rectangular hollow sections were numerically investigated under both monotonic and cyclic loading protocols. The results show that hollow-section short links generally exhibit highly ductile behavior, particularly when an appropriate plate thickness is adopted. In addition, these links can effectively prevent local shear buckling without requiring additional stiffening plates, which are typically needed for wide-flange links. Furthermore, these links develop shear resistances up to 1.6 times their plastic shear capacity, exceeding the resistance level prescribed by the Eurocode 8 for this type of solution. This overstrength should be properly accounted for in the capacity design approach to ensure that plastic deformations remain confined to the link.