CEE Seminar: What Makes a “Special Moment Frame” Special?

Abstract:  The design of Special Moment Frames (SMF) -- and in particular, their connections -- has undergone a significant overhaul in the post-Northridge earthquake era. This presentation focuses on critical aspects of SMF systems and their connections to ensure a desired ductile behavior and dissipation of energy. Seismic design philosophy, the design provisions of AISC 341, and connection requirements for SMF systems will be discussed; and finally the results of a full-scale experimental test on SMF connections with a comparison to an analytical model will be presented.

Bio:  Behzad Rafezy is director of the R&D Department at SidePlate Systems, Inc. Rafezy has more than 20 years of combined industrial and academic experience. He has supervised and managed research in all levels including several doctoral projects and published more than 60 technical papers in engineering journals and conference proceedings. Rafezy is co-inventor of the panel zone equivalent end zone (EEZ) model, published at the SEAOC 2014 Convention. Rafezy has been a lead structural engineer for the design of over one 100 high-profile structures.