Targeted steel frames by means of innovative moment resisting connections

The present paper proposes the use of stepped cross section devices on steel frames aiming at reproducing a pre-established target push-over curve. To this aim Limited Resistance Plastic Device (LRPD) to be inserted along selected structural members is proposed. following two main specific features for LRPD are required: any elastic flexural stiffness variation original member must avoided; an ultimate plastic bending moment value equal assigned percentage limit resistance ensured. Steel equipped with modeled by means extension recently proposed Fibre Smart Displacement Based (FSDB) beam element model, characterized adoption updating shape functions. novelty research, respect previous studies, regards: i) formulation targeted plane frame new optimal design procedure and features, independent each other; ii) development FSDB approach suitably devoted such special application discontinuous sections devices. model analysis real behaviour device in field distributed plasticity validated against detailed 3D finite models.