Experimental Study on Reduced Length Buckling-

Restrained Braces under Slow Cyclic Loading.

M. Safeer Pandikkadavath and Dipti Ranjan Sahoo
Dept. of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi-110016, India
Need for the research Test specimens Results Discussion
Axial Strain (%)
A slip between the tension and compression
Buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) exhibit Overall length = 600 mm -4 -2 0 2 4
transition zone in the hysteresis of RLBRB-
symmetric load-displacement response, high 50% core length (300 mm) 200 60x8 was due to the initiation of local
ductility and better energy dissipation Material yield stress = 300 MPa buckling in near the transition zone.

Axial Load (kN)

potential under cyclic loading [1]. However, Two specimens 0
buckling-restrained braced frames (BRBFs) RLBRB-60x8 (core area = 480 mm2) An increased clearance in the core length
suffer from large post-earthquake residual RLBRB-52x8 (core area = 416 mm2) -200 helps in eliminating the slip effect and results
drift, primarily due to the smaller axial Detachable U-shaped casing for post- RLBRB-60x8 in a distributed higher mode compression
stiffness of BRBs [2]. Recent studies [3] have earthquake inspection -10 0
Axial Displacement (mm)
10
yielding (RLBRB-52x8).
shown that composite braces consisting of without side stiffeners (RLBRB-60x8)
reduced-length BRBs (RLBRBs), as passive (Hysteretic response of RLBRB-60x8)
with side stiffeners (RLBRB-52x8) Tension strength adjustment factor, was
damping devices, connected in series with the Axial Strain (%) found to be 1.40 and 1.45. Compression
conventional braces significantly control the -4 -2 0 2 4
strength adjustment factor, was noted as
residual drift response and improve the 200 1.16 and 1.12 at BRB core strain of 4%.
seismic response of braced frames [3].

Axial Load (kN)

0 Proposed detachable casing facilitates the
This study investigates the performance of post-earthquake inspection of BRBs.
reduced-length BRBs under slow-cyclic (Specimen RLBRB-60x8) -200

loading condition. RLBRB-52x8

Beam
-10 0
Axial Displacement (mm)
10
Conclusions
Gusset (Hysteretic response of RLBRB-52x8) The RLBRBs can reach an axial core strain
more than 4 % without any instabilities and
RLBRB -4
Axial Strain (%)
-2 0 2 4
can dissipate hysteretic energy effectively.
Column

40

Cumulative Energy (kNm)

Column

Gusset
(Specimen RLBRB-52x8) 200
Axial Load (kN) 30
The reduced core clearance in the end zones
Buckling- Specimen Core clearance End 0 20 as compared to central core region can yield
type braces clearance acceptable RLBRB performance and cause
10
RLBRB-60x8 2 mm (~2%) 4 mm -200
RLBRB-52x8
RLBRB-60x8 minimum damage to the detachable concrete
filled steel casings.
RLBRB-52x8
RLBRB-60x8 0

(Braced frame with RLBRB) (RLBRB) RLBRB-52x8 4 mm (~4%) 2 mm -10 0 10

Axial Displacement (mm)
0 5 10 15
Cycles
20 25

(Backbone curves) (Energy dissipation) Strength adjustment factors for RLBRB falls
within the range as prescribed by ASCE7-10
Research Objectives Test set-up Brace Deformation (mm)
for conventional BRBs .
Brace Deformation (mm)
0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18
2.0 1.5

To investigate the cyclic performance of

References
= Cmax/Tmax)

1.5
RLBRB dampers with detachable casings
w = Tmax/Pysc)

1.0

1.0
1) Black CJ, Makris N, and Aiken ID. (2004). Component testing,
0.5
seismic evaluation and characterization of buckling-restrained
To Study the effect of the core clearance on 0.5
RLBRB-60x8
RLBRB-52x8
braces. Journal of Structural Engineering; 130 (6): 880894.
RLBRB-01 4.5 + 1
the overall performance of the RLBRBs RLBRB-03
13.25 + 0.875 0.0
3.0 + 1 2) Fahnestock LA, Ricles JM, and Sause R. (2007). Experimental
0.0 0 2 4 6 evaluation of a large-scale buckling-restrained braced frame.
0 2 4
Axial Strain, (%)
6
Axial Strain, (%) ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering; 133 (9):12051214.
To evaluate the hysteretic energy potential 3) Pandikkadavath MS, and Sahoo DR. (2013). Seismic performance
and strength adjustment factors of the (Variation of Tension/Compression strength of steel frame structures with hybrid concentrically brace
adjustment factors) systems, International Conference on Rehabilitation and Restoration of
RLBRB components. Structures, February 13-16, Chennai, India.