Abstract

In this paper, performance of dissipative reduced-section diagonals implemented in Automated Rack Supported Warehouses (ARSWs) is analysed. ARSWs are storage systems where the steel racks traditionally used to store goods only, constitute also the primary system of the building. Given the lack of a reference design code to design these structures as seismicresistant, and starting from a critical analysis of the current design approaches, a proper design strategy for these structures has been developed, which is based on the possibility to dissipate seismic energy in the bracings. However, the design of an over-resistant connection that would allow the yielding of the bracings is quite tricky due to the very low thickness of the elements usually adopted for these structures and is only possible by reducing the cross section of the profile. A wide experimental campaign is preformed to validate the behaviour of these diagonals, to be later implemented in the global numerical model of the structure to measure the effective performances of the case study ARSWs, both at local and global level.