Buckling-Restrained Braced Frames

by
Walterio A. Lpez, SE Rutherford & Chekene
Rafael Sabelli, SE Walter P Moore
Buckling-Restrained Braced Frames
(BRBFs)
Code Intent
How BRBs work
Brief History of BRBFs in US Codes
Sample BRBF Construction
Brief treatment on testing
Building-Code Design
Design Methodology
Specification, Other Issues
Gusset Connections
Summary
Code Intent
Building-Code Philosophy
Objective: Prevent collapse in the extreme
earthquake likely to occur at a
building site.
Objectives are not to:
limit damage
maintain function
provide for easy repair
To survive a strong earthquake
without collapse:
Design for Ductile Behavior
Material Ductility
Member Ductility
System Ductility
AISC Methodology
Designate fuses
Members that undergo inelastic strain
Provide ductility in fuse members
Prevent local buckling
Prevent member instability
Prevent connection failure
Design system to ensure ductility is concentrated
in fuses
How BRBs work
What is a Buckling-restrained Brace?
Two Definitions
De-Coupled Stress and Buckling
(Mechanics Definition)
Balanced Hysteresis
(Performance Definition)
Stress
resisted by
steel core
Buckling
resisted by
sleeve
BRB Definitions Explained:
Conventional Bracing
Brace behavior is
asymmetric with
respect to tension
and compression
and is subject to
strength and
stiffness
degradation
P
cr
R
y
A
g
F
y
Compression
Tension
0 3 1 2
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n

S
t
r
e
n
g
t
h
Slenderness Parameter
c
BRB Definitions Explained:
Sleeved Column
Sleeve achieves
2
EI/L
2
Stress is zero
No material stress limit
F
y
A

2
EI
L
2
Steel core achieves F
y
A

c
~ 0
kl
/
r
~ 0
Brief History of BRBFs
in US Codes
Historical Background
1
st
BRBF paper: 2000 SEAOC Convention
BRBF design presentations:
SEAOC: 2001-2006
NASCC: 2004, 2005
Steel TIPS Seminars: 2004
ASCE Structures Congress: 2005
AISC braced frame seminars: 2005, 2006
BRBFs in U.S. to date: >100 bldgs, >15,000
BRBs
Background (recent past/present)
SEAOC/AISC BRBF committee
Background (present)
Sample BRBF Construction
Sample Construction
Sample Construction
Sample Construction
Buckling
Restrained
Brace
Unbonded Brace
Buckling-Restrained Brace Types
PowerCat
Brace
ACME
Bracing
Company
Buckling-Restrained Brace Assembly
Core
Sleeve
Buckling-Restrained Brace Assembly
Buckling-Restrained Brace Mechanics
Unbonded
Brace Type
Decoupling
Buckling
Restraint
Encasing
mortar
Yielding steel
core
Steel tube
Debonding material
between steel core and
mortar
Brief treatment on testing
Selected Testing Data
Literature
Reference
Test Type
Number
of Tested
Braces

Brace
Strain
(%)

SIE, 1999 Uniaxial 3 2.1

SIE, 2001 Uniaxial 2 2.1

UC Berkeley, 2002
Frame
(Subassemblage)
3 1.8 - 2.1

Merritt et al., 2003a Subassemblage 6 2.4 - 2.7

Merritt et al., 2003b Subassemblage 8 1.8 - 2.6

Merritt et al., 2003c Uniaxial 2 1.6, 1.7

SIE, 2003 Subassemblage 4 1.6 3.0

BRB Tests Short Summary
About 50+ different brace tests have been
performed in support of US projects
All tests results so far have met Appendix Ts
acceptance criteria
Tests have included Appendix T, moment frame,
near-field, and fatigue displacement protocols
Kinematic rotations of brace ends were not
detrimental to brace performance
Building-Code Design
R Values
7 for Basic BRBF System
8 for BRBF System with Rigid Beam-Column
Connections
8 for BRBF/SMF Dual System
ASCE 7 2005 (with Supplement 1)

o
Values
2 for Basic BRBF System
2
1
/
2
for BRBF System with Rigid Beam-Column
Connections
2
1
/
2
for BRBF/SMF Dual System
ASCE 7 2005 (with Supplement 1)
C
d
Values
5
1
/
2
for Basic BRBF System
5 for BRBF System with Rigid Beam-Column
Connections
5 for BRBF/SMF Dual System
ASCE 7 2005 (with Supplement 1)
Height Limits
Separated by Seismic Design Category:
B&C D E F
NL 160* 160 100 for Basic BRBF System
NL 160* 160 100 for BRBF System with Rigid
Beam-Column Connections
NL NL NL NL for BRBF/SMF Dual System
(NL = Not Limited)
*Can be increased to 240 for regular buildings.
ASCE 7 2005 (with Supplement 1)
Coefficients for Determination of
Approximate Period
T
a
= C
r
(
H
/
ft.
)
x
C
r
= 0.03 (ASCE to incorporate)
x = 0.75
(Similar to EBF)
ASCE 7 2005 (with Supplement 1)
Combined effect of R and T
Period
D
e
s
i
g
n

B
a
s
e

S
h
e
a
r
SCBF
BRBF
SCBF Building
BRBF Building
Design Methodology
Design Procedure
Define appropriate BRB modeling
Determine required brace strength
Check drift
Determine brace displacements at 2.0
m
Compare required displacements to existing tests
Plan and conduct new tests?
Determine adjusted BRB strengths at 2.0
m
Requires test data or manufacturers summary
Calculate required strength of columns, beams, and
connections based on adjusted BRB strengths
BRBF Design Methodology
BRB is energy dissipater
Steel core material
specified as mild & ductile
Design checks:
BRB P
n
Global drift
BRB deformation,
bM
Adjusted BRB strengths
Beam R
u
/R
n
Column R
u
/R
n
Connections R
u
/R
n
Analysis
Gravity Load
Size frame to resist 100% of gravity
All load combinations
Do not model braces as resisting gravity load
Check that braces do not yield under Live Load
Seismic Load
Size braces for seismic load only
Do not model braces to resist gravity load
Size for 100% of seismic load?
Or consider shear in columns
Found by analysis
Size frame considering plastic mechanism
Design Summary
Design for seismic force
from analysis; do not
include gravity
Check to make
sure live load does
not cause (cyclic)
yielding
Braces
Design for maximum
brace forces, plus 100% of
gravity
Design for 100% of
load
Frame
1.2D + 0.5L + E 1.2D + 1.6L
Seismic Gravity
Load Combination
Brace Stiffness
K
br
= P/
~ PL
y
/A
y
E
L
y
= 0.5-0.8 L
(depending on
brace type and
configuration)
K
br
= 1.2 - 2.0 A
y
E /L
Flexibility
L
y
EA
sc
L L
y
EA
nonyielding
BRB Modeling
K
br
= 1.3 A
sc
E /L ? K
br
= 1.6 A
sc
E /L ?
BRB Modeling (Nonlinear)
Isotropic and kinematic strain hardening
Difference in tension/compression values
Modified DRAIN, PERFORM 3D
Steel Core Material
Specifications
ASTM A36 Grade 36/42
JIS G3136 SN400B
Wide range of yield strength not desired
Solution: supplementary yield strength
requirements verified by coupon tests
Current practice: material procured based on
MTRs, coupon tests performed prior to
fabrication
Preliminary BRB Design
ysc
u
sc
F
P
A

cos 2
F
P
u
=
Assume braces
resist 100% of
story shear
Design braces to
calculated capacity
(P
u
= P
n
= F
ysc
A
sc
)
F

BRB Axial Deformation Check

Compute elastic story drift
X
Extract from analysis program
bX
=
brace
at
X
story drift
BRB Axial Deformation Check

bX
is computed at largest elastic story drift
( = 1.0 for drift)
Compute
bM
= C
d

bX
=
brace
at
M
story drift
Compute max. brace strain
MAX
= 2.0
bM
/ L
ysc

MAX
cannot exceed maximum value tested
If
MAX
exceeds tested values, resize BRB
BRB Axial Deformation Comparison
For a ASCE 7 earthquake (2/3 of MCE)
2.0
bm
~ 10
by
(elastic methods, Ch. 16)
Mean = 9-11
by
(Sabelli, Fahnestock)
For a 2%/50 year event
Not addressed in codes
Mean = 17-19
by
(Sabelli, Fahnestock)
Ductilities underestimated but not forces
Solution: fabricate BRBs to
by
larger than
predicted by elastic methods
Plastic Mechanism
All braces yielding
Tension or compression
Strain Hardened
Adjusted strength
= Maximum force
Based on first mode
BRB Adjusted Strength
Compression: R
y
F
ysc
A
sc
Tension: R
y
F
ysc
A
sc
Adjusted for Various Factors
Strain-Hardening
Compression Overstrength
R
y
Material Overstrength
If F
y
is used as core yield strength F
ysc
, R
y
is > 1.0
If F
ysc
is taken from material coupon test, R
y
= 1.0.
BRB Adjusted Strength
Factors
Factors Taken from Test Results within 2.0

m
.
Compression Strength Adjustment Factor
= C
max
/T
max
Strain-Hardening Adjustment Factor
= T
max
/F
y
A
Provided by brace manufacturers
BRB Uniaxial Test Results
Hysteresis courtesy of SIE, Inc.
BRB Adjusted Strength (example)

MAX
= 0.98 % at 2.0
bM
Go to graph from BRB manufacturer
and obtain:
= 1.22
= 1.25
= /
= 1.25/1.22
= 1.03
BRB Adjusted Strength
Case at inverted-V beam
R
y
F
ysc
A
sc
R
y
F
ysc
A
sc
R
y
F
ysc
A
sc
R
y
F
ysc
A
sc
R
y
F
ysc
A
sc
R
y
F
ysc
A
sc
R
y
F
ysc
A
sc
R
y
F
ysc
A
sc
R
y
F
ysc
A
sc
R
y
F
ysc
A
sc
Frame Design: Model BRB Forces
Directly
Combine with 1.2D + 0.5 L + 0.2 S
ds
D
Column flexural forces not calculated
E = 1 ksi
= 1/
o
F

T
= R
y
F
ysc
Tension

T
= R
y
F
ysc
Compression
Axial force approximation
Column flexural forces not calculated
Combine with 1.2D + 0.5 L + 0.2 S
ds
D
Frame Design: Model BRB forces Using
Temperature
Specification, Other Issues
Use of Proprietary BRBs
Engineer Specifies:
Brace Strength
Brace Core Area (or stiffness)
Maximum and Minimum F
y
Displacement range
Manufacturer Provides:
Braces that meet the specification
Test data that qualifies the braces
Typical Specification of BRB Size- A
SC
Uncertainty in strength (example)
Calculations
P
n
= 0.9A
ysc
(38 ksi)
R
y
= 46 ksi/38 ksi = 1.21
Drawings
A
sc
= 8.5 in.
2
(for example)
Specifications
38 ksi F
ysc
46 ksi
Manufacture
A
sc
= 8.5 in.
2
323 kips P
ysc
391 kips
Proportioning of strength likely similar to design
Alternate Specification of BRB Size- P
ysc
Uncertainty in stiffness (example)
Calculations
P
n
= 0.9A
sc
F
ysc
where F
ysc
is measured during manufacture
and A
sc
is adjusted accordingly
R
y
= 1.0
A
sc
= P
n
/0.9 (44 ksi) [reasonably low stiffness for analysis]
Drawings
P
ysc
= 323 kips (= P
u
/)
Specifications
38 ksi F
ysc
46 ksi
Manufacture
P
ysc
= 323 kips
7.0 in.
2
Asc 8.5 in.
2
Proportioning of stiffness likely similar to design
Construction Administration
General contractor
BRB
Detailer
Steel fabricator
Fabricator
Detailer
Drawing
Exchange
Coordinated submittals:
BRBs, gusset plates, frames
Code Issues
BRB is a better brace that doesn't buckle.
BRB is a performance-specification item.
Single diagonals in one direction and stacked
chevron allowed without penalty.
BRB and gussets often need not be fireproofed.
If manufactured in approved shop, inspections
may be waived.
Non-structural attachments to casing not
prohibited.
Gusset Connections
Sample Connections
Alternative Connections
Courtesy of
STAR Seismic
Courtesy of
CoreBrace
Direct bolting of core
Direct welding of core
Gusset Plate Design Issues
Adjusted BRB strengths readily
determined from backbone
curve (first validation of
methodology)
Frame fixity must be
acknowledged in analyses
Recognize that cyclic testing of
gusset plates not fully
developed
Avoid unnecessary connection
restraint
Beam (or column) yield at <1%
Rotation ductility not tested
These issues apply to all gussets at large
drift
SCBF and OCBF drift likely to be greater than
BRBF
EBF rotations may be much greater
Potential Connection Issues
Courtesy of K.C. Tsai
Potential Connection Issues
Pin Connection
Courtesy of
L. Fahnestock
Summary
BRBF Design Summary
BRB is energy
dissipater
Check BRB ductility
demands
Check surrounding
elements for adjusted
BRB strengths
Overall Summary
BRBs harness steel ductility to provide
member ductility
BRBF provide a ductile system if
Connection failure is precluded
Braces are proportioned to earthquake demand
Frame is designed for plastic mechanism
Braces are properly specified.
Thank You