Amirkabir University of Technology AUT Journal of Civil Engineering 2588-2899 3 1 2019 06 01 Cyclic Behaviour of the Knee Braced System Considering the Type of Knee Joint 13 22 3123 10.22060/ajce.2018.15016.5515 EN E. Z. BEYDOKHTI Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran S.H. Khatibi Parsrazavi Institute of Higher Education, Gonabad, Iran Mehdi Yousefi Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of maritime, Chabahar maritime university, Chabahar, Iran Journal Article 2018 09 22 <span>In recent years, the use of braced frame systems has been expanded to achieve a stiff and ductile structures in high seismic zones. Among the various types of bracing systems, the knee bracing system has been specially considered for seismic design in steel structures. In this system, the diagonal member provides the system’s stiffness, and the knee member as a fuse, provides the ductility and prevents the buckling of diagonal member; Thus, it is expected that the stiffness and ductility of the structures will be remained simultaneously. In this study, the knee braced frames modelled using finite element method under statically cyclic loading. The effect of different types of the joints between the diagonal members to the knee member on cyclic behaviour of the knee bracing system was investigated. Three fixed joints were: the diagonal connected to flange of a continuous knee member (KBF-1), the diagonal connected to the web of discontinuous knee member (KBF-2) and the diagonal connected to the web of discontinuous knee member with stiffener (KBF-3). The results showed that KBF-3 model had better performance in terms of ductility, energy absorption and ultimate capacity. Besides, the elastic stiffness of KBF-2 and KBF-3 joints were approximately the same.</span> https://ajce.aut.ac.ir/article_3123_698883362b0a3aa94f99a3a6eafe0d97.pdf