In this study, the suitability of a new structural system called the knee braced frames (KBFs) is investigated for seismic resistant steel structures. In these structural systems, ends of beams are connected to columns by hinges (simple connection) instead of rigid connections, and ends of knee braced elements are connected to columns and beams by hinges as well. In the present paper, in addition to a comparison between elastic behaviour and elastic fundamental natural period, the ductility reduction factor and the type of collapse mechanism in steel KBFs and steel moment resisting frames (MRFs) are compared. The study revealed that the stiffness of steel buildings can be increased considerably by applying knee braced elements and the effects of knee braced elements are highly dependent on knee braced configuration. By applying the pushover analysis, it was observed that the type of collapse mechanism of KBFs is very similar to the mechanism of MRFs. Furthermore in most cases, the ductility reduction factor, Rμ, obtained from steel KBFs is greater than the ductility reduction factor obtained for steel MRFs. Based on the similarity between type of collapse mechanism and the proximity of ductility reduction coefficients of the KBFs and MRFs systems, it can be concluded that the new steel knee braced frame systems can be categorised as steel MRFs with rigid connections.
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