Abrham, Gebre (PhD)Abel, Berhanemeskel2022-01-142023-11-112022-01-142023-11-112021-12http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/29532Eccentrically Braced Frames (EBFs) link’s behavior is affected by their link length, web/flange slenderness, stiffener spacing, stiffener cross-sectional behavior, and the axial load ratio present in the link. Even though various research has been conducted on the effect of these parameters on the link’s behavior, a sensitivity analysis to determine which of these parameters is the most influential on the link’s behavior has not been conducted. Additionally, most of the previous research conducted on EBF links was done using the American wide flange sections and not much research has been conducted using the European IPE sections. The purpose of this research is to conduct a parametric sensitivity analysis using nonlinear finite element analysis on the behavior of EBF links made up of European IPE sections subjected to cyclic loading. Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) method was employed to generate samples for the nonlinear finite element analysis. A total of 45 samples with 15 samples for each of the three link types (Short, Intermediate, and Long) was generated. From the nonlinear finite element analysis results, a sensitivity analysis was conducted using the differential sensitivity analysis method. From the sensitivity analysis, it was found out that short links plastic rotation capacity was the most influenced by axial load ratio and stiffener spacing, while their overstrength ratio was the most influenced by stiffener spacing and link length ratio. Short link energy dissipation capacity and ductility were the most influenced by axial load ratio, link length ratio, and stiffener spacing. Intermediate links plastic rotation capacity and ductility were the most influenced by stiffener spacing, axial load ratio, link length ratio, and flange slenderness the most. Intermediate links’ overstrength ratio was the most influenced by stiffener spacing and link length ratio, while their energy dissipation capacity was the most influenced by stiffener spacing and flange slenderness. Long links’ entire behavior was influenced by their flange slenderness and axial load ratio the most. It was also observed that tensile axial load increases the overstrength ratio in short links. The higher overall overstrength ratio observed for IPE sections in previous research was also observed in this research as well where most of the samples surpassed the seismic code recommended value of 1.5.en-USEccentrically braced framesLinksaxial load ratioLink length ratioWeb slendernessFlange slendernessStiffener spacingPlastic rotation capacityOverstrength ratioDuctilityEnergy dissipation capacityCyclic LoadingThesis