Experimental study on seismic performance of ultrahigh-strength steel frames with buckling-restrained braces

The application of high-strength steel (HSS) is a significant trend in the development of steel structures. Two main challenges for HSS structures in seismic design (i.e., low energy dissipation capacity and low lateral stiffness) need to be addressed before HSS structures can be widely constructed in practice. To solve those problems, the seismic performance of structures combined of HSS frames and concentric buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) was investigated in this study. Two half-scale experimental specimens with different stiffness ratios between BRB and HSS frame were fabricated and tested under constant vertical load and cyclic increasing horizontal load. The hysteretic response, horizontal bearing capacity, internal force distribution, energy dissipation capacity, and ductility of the dual system were analyzed. The results showed that the specimens exhibited overall ductile performance with high elastic stiffness, significant ductility, and excellent energy dissipation capacity. The characteristics of both specimens in the pseudo-static test can be divided into three typical phases, which were described as overall elastic phase, BRB hardening phase, and failing phase. The BRB hardening phase was characterized by high energy dissipation capacity, and the plastic deformation was limited to the BRB, so the ductile demand of HSS member in HSSF-BRB was reduced. Moreover, the effect of stiffness ratio between BRB and HSS frame on seismic performance was discussed in this paper.

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Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MEiN, umowa nr SONP/SP/546092/2022 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki i promocja sportu (2022-2023)