Study on Upgrading of Functional Maintenance Performance of Suspension Structures during Earthquakes by Applying Elasto-plastic Characteristics

To address the frequent seismic damage of suspended structures, this study investigates the effectiveness of applying low-yield-point (LYP) steel hanging bolts to enhance their seismic resilience. Using nonlinear time-history response analysis on single-degree-of-freedom models, the authors compared configurations with ordinary steel, LYP-steel, and hybrid bolts. The analysis confirmed that LYP steel bolts significantly reduce seismic response by absorbing energy through plastic deformation. Critically, unlike conventional bolts which fractured under strong ground motion, the LYP bolts prevented catastrophic failure, thereby ensuring the structure's integrity. This demonstrates that applying LYP steel is a highly effective solution for improving the functional maintenance and seismic safety of suspended structures, even when subjected to large plastic deformations.