Dissipative capacity on FRP spatial pultruded structure

The dissipation capacity of a generic structure depends on its many characteristics – like material, shape of the cross-sections, structural scheme, regularity and typology of structures – and it is accomplished by means of the behavior factor q through a very strategic reduction of seismic action. This is the reason why this research shows an overview on the evaluation of the q factor, preparatory to an analysis related to a spatial frame structure of built-up members made of FRPs (Fiber Reinforced Polymers) pultruded profiles, FRP gusset plates and steel bolts. The factor q proposed starts directly from experimental data, in detail the outcomes due to the dynamic identification on site carried out. Subsequently, a finite element model under the hypothesis of kinematic equivalence for the measurement of q was calibrated. The adopted structure investigated is a spatial frame with concentric diagonal bracings for which its dissipation capacity by means of the strength hierarchy criteria was assigned. To exalt the overall behavior of the all-GFRP structure a case of rigid connection is assumed with a comparison with semi-rigid conditions. The analysis was carried out also on the variability of the q factor, considering some typological variants of the basic structure.