Development of a four-tube-assembled buckling-restrained brace for convenient post-earthquake damage examination and replacement. (1st June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bai, Jiulin; Chen, Huiming; Ma, Gao; Duan, Lian
• Is Part Of: Journal of building engineering. Volume 50(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06-01
• Subjects: Buckling-restrained brace -- Restraining hoops -- Assembly and disassembly -- Post-earthquake damage examination -- Replacement; Building -- Periodicals; 690.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104209
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-7102

Abstract

Abstract: As a high-performance metallic damper, buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) have been widely employed in building structures to absorb the seismic input energy, resulting in mitigating the damage of main structural components. However, the restraining members of BRBs pose quite a challenge to the post-earthquake damage examination of inner core plates. In this study, a four-tube-assembled buckling-restrained brace (FTA-BRB) was proposed for the convenient post-earthquake damage examination and replacement. The restraining members of FTA-BRBs consist of four steel square tubes and U-shaped restraining hoops, which can be easily and rapidly assembled and disassembled using high-strength bolts. Cyclic tests of four specimens were conducted to gain insights into the seismic behavior of the FTA-BRB. Test results demonstrated that the proposed FTA-BRBs exhibited full and plump hysteretic loops. The restraining hoops failed and the core plate fractured under high strain amplitudes. No local buckling occurred at the steel square tubes during the testing, and thus the restraining elements can be reused resulting from a reduction of repair expenses. Moreover, the numerical model was constructed and verified by the test results. The effects on the hysteretic behaviors and failure modes of the number of restraining hoops were investigated. The contributions of this study can provide a reference for the application of BRBs in engineering structures. Highlights: A four-tube-assembled buckling-restrained brace (FTA-BRB) was developed. Cyclic tests and the numerical model were conducted. The seismic performance of the FTA-BRB was systematically investigated.