Cyclic behavior of steel buildings with shear walls featuring rocking motion

Reducing seismic damage in earthquake-prone regions is critical for enhancing structural safety and resilience. One effective solution involves the use of oscillatory systems with rotational inertia, which can mitigate the effects of seismic forces and restore structures to their original state. This study investigates the seismic behavior of steel frames with shear walls and rocking motion, utilizing ABAQUS finite element software. The objective is to assess the role of rotational inertia and controlled uplift in dissipating seismic energy by incorporating mechanical links that induce cyclic vertical motion. Unlike previous studies that primarily focus on cable braces or viscous dampers , this research introduces an innovative approach by integrating rocking motion into the seismic performance of steel frames. A micro-model of a steel frame with two types of central support configurations—single-hinged and double-hinged—is analyzed. The results clearly show that rocking motion significantly affects the lateral performance of the system. Double-hinged configurations exhibit superior energy absorption and greater flexibility compared to single-hinged systems. Additionally, analysis of permanent plastic deformation under cyclic lateral loading reveals that components such as upper infill plates and shear connections sustain more damage in both configurations, while the single-hinged system offers greater lateral resistance . This study contributes to advancing the design of steel frames with shear walls by exploring the complexities of component design, support configurations, and seismic performance to minimize structural damage. Unlike traditional systems, which primarily rely on cable braces or viscous dampers, the proposed method incorporates mechanical fuses and controlled uplift to exploit rotational inertia. The results reveal that the double-hinged configuration exhibits superior energy absorption (22 % higher than single-hinged systems) and enhanced deformability , with a 109 % increase in overall system flexibility. However, the single-hinged model demonstrates higher lateral resistance (17 % greater) and stiffness in certain components. Notably, double-hinged systems distribute damage more evenly, reducing critical failures in infill plates. • Cyclic behavior of steel frames with shear walls analyzed using finite elements. • Investigated single- and dual-hinged supports for improved seismic resilience. • Rocking motion enhances energy dissipation and reduces structural damage. • Von Mises plasticity model captures material nonlinearity in the analysis. • Dual-hinged support increases energy absorption by 22 % under cyclic loading.