Seismic and Durability Performance of Steel Connections
A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 2872
Special Issue Editor
Interests: seismic design; steel frame; connection; cold-formed steel; corrosion; composite structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue brings together a series of papers that highlight recent progress in the field of steel frame connections, with particular emphasis on seismic analysis and design of innovative connection systems, as well as seismic damage assessment, evaluation, repair, and retrofit strategies.
The severe failures observed in steel connections during the Northridge (1994) and Kobe (1995) earthquakes exposed fundamental design deficiencies and marked a turning point in seismic engineering research. In the decades since, intensive global efforts have led to the development of a wide range of high-performance connections, aiming to improve energy dissipation, ductility, and post-earthquake reparability.
With the rapid emergence of prefabricated and modular steel structures, novel connection types with distinct mechanical behaviors and construction requirements have continued to evolve. These new demands have expanded the research landscape, pushing the boundaries of both experimental investigation and analytical modeling.
In parallel, increasing attention has been paid to the long-term durability of steel connections, especially in aggressive or extreme environments where corrosion can significantly compromise structural performance. Corrosion-induced degradation not only reduces the strength and stiffness of connection components but also alters their seismic response and failure modes, posing new challenges for both design and maintenance. Integrating corrosion resistance and durability considerations into seismic design has therefore become a critical research frontier.
Given that connections often govern the failure modes and deformation capacity of steel frames under seismic loading, understanding their performance—considering both seismic and environmental demands—is crucial for ensuring structural safety and resilience. Ongoing research into their behavior under combined seismic and corrosive actions, degradation mechanisms, and performance-based design is not only academically valuable but also essential for advancing modern, durable, and resilient steel construction practices.
Prof. Dr. Linfeng Lu
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- steel connections
- seismic performance
- corrosion degradation
- durability
- post-earthquake retrofit
- prefabricated structures
- modular construction
- failure mechanisms
- environmental effects
- performance-based design
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