Experimental and numerical study of buckling-restrained braces configured with out-of-plane eccentricity under cyclic loading

This study focuses on variations in the hysteretic behavior of buckling-restrained braces(BRBs)configured with or without out-of-plane eccentricity under cyclic loading.Quasi-static experiments and numerical simulations were carried out on concentrically and eccentrically loaded BRB specimens to investigate the mechanical properties,energy dissipation performance,stress distribution,and high-order deformation pattern.The experimental and numerical results showed that compared to the concentrically loaded BRBs,the stiffness,yield force,cumulated plastic ductility(CPD)coefficient,equivalent viscous damping coefficient and energy dissipation decreased,and the yield displacement and compression strength adjustment factor increased for the eccentrically loaded BRBs.With the existence of the out-of-plane eccentricity,the initial yield position changes from the yield segment to the junction between the yield segment and transition segment under a tensile load,while the initial high-order buckling pattern changes from a first-order C-shape to a secondorder S-shape under a compressive load.

Application of buckling-restrained braces in the seismic control of suspension bridges

Buckling-restrained braces(BRBs)are widely used to improve the seismic performance of buildings.This paper aims to introduce BRBs to suspension bridges and assess the seismic performance of bridges with BRBs.Taking the Dadu River Bridge as a case study,an FEA model of the bridge is established,and different seismic measures(BRBs between the deck and the tower,BRBs at the middle of the span to replace the inclined suspenders to connect the deck and the main cables,fluid viscous dampers(FVDs)between the deck and the tower,the combination of BRBs to replace the inclined suspenders as well as FVDs between the deck and the tower)are applied to the suspension bridge.The influence of the parameters of BRBs on the seismic response of the suspension bridge is studied,and the performance of the bridge with BRBs is compared with that of the bridge with FVDs.The results indicate that the use of BRBs in place of the inclined suspenders is beneficial to reduce the displacement of the deck and limit the shear force and bending moment of the tower.The seismic performance of the suspension bridge with BRBs and FVDs is better than that of the bridge with BRBs or FVDs.Therefore,the application of BRBs is a feasible method to improve the seismic performance of the suspension bridge.

Development and subassemblage cyclic testing of hybrid buckling-restrained steel braces

Buckling-restrained braced frames(BRBFs) are vulnerable to relatively higher post-earthquake residual drifts under high intensity ground shakings. This is primarily due to the low axial elastic and post-elastic stiffness of bucklingrestrained braces(BRBs) satisfying the design force demand requirements. In the present study, a hybrid buckling restrained bracing system consisting of a short yielding core length BRB component and a conventional buckling-type brace component connected in series has been developed with an aim to increase the axial stiffness of braces. This study is focused on the experimental investigation of six hybrid bucking restrained braces(HBRBs) to investigate their overall behavior, loadresisting capacity, strength-adjustment factors and energy dissipation potential. The main parameters varied are the crosssectional area, the yielding length of core elements as well as the detailing of buckling-restraining system of short yielding core length BRBs. Test results showed that the HBRBs with yielding core length in the range of 30% of work-point to workpoint lengths withstood an axial strain of 6% without any instability and can deliver stable and balanced hysteretic response and excellent energy dissipation under reversed cyclic loading conditions.

Ductility demands on buckling-restrained braced frames under earthquake loading

Accurate estimates of ductility demands on buckling-restrained braced frames(BRBFs)are crucial to performance-based design of BRBFs.An analytical study on the seismic behavior of BRBFs has been conducted at the ATLSS Center,Lehigh University to prepare for an upcoming experimental program.The analysis program DRAIN-2DX was used to model a one-bay,four-story prototype BRBF including material and geometric nonlinearities.The buckling- restrained brace(BRB)model incorporates both isotropic and kinematic hardening.Nonlinear static pushover and time- history analyses were performed on the prototype BRBF.Performance objectives for the BRBs were defined and used to evaluate the time-history analysis results.Particular emphasis was placed on global ductility demands and ductility demands on the BRBs.These demands were compared with anticipated ductility capacities.The analysis results,along with results from similar previous studies,are used to evaluate the BRBF design provisions that have been recommended for codification in the United States.The results show that BRB maximum ductility demands can be as high as 20 to 25.These demands significantly exceed those anticipated by the BRBF recommended provisions.Results from the static pushover and time- history analyses are used to demonstrate why the ductility demands exceed those anticipated by the recommended provisions. The BRB qualification testing protocol contained in the BRBF recommended provisions is shown to be inadequate because it requires only a maximum ductility demand of at most 7.5.Modifications to the testing protocol are recommended.

Stability Performance of Buckling-Restrained Brace with Brace Joints

The stability and ductility of four buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) with brace joints were studied. The load-carrying element of BRB was fabricated with steel (Chinese Q235), and a layer of colloidal silica sheet (0.5 mm in thickness) or four layers of plastic film (0.2 mm in thickness) were used as unbonding materials to provide space to prevent the buckling of inner core in higher modes and facilitate its lateral expansion in case of compression. Based on the equation of BRBs with brace joints of different restrained stiffnesses, the buckling load is calculated considering the initial geometric imperfections and residual stress, and the theoretical values agree well with the experiment results. It is concluded that the buckling load and ductility of BRBs are influenced greatly by the restrained stiffness of brace joints. If the restrained stiffness is deficient, the unstrained segment of BRBs with less stiffness will buckle firstly. As a result, the ultimate load of BRBs decreases, and the maximum compression load is reduced to about 65% of the maximum tension load; the stiffness also degenerates, and there is a long decreasing stage on the back-bone curve in compression phase; the ductility decreases, i.e., the ultimate tension ductility and ultimate compression ductility are approximately 15 and 1.3 respectively, and the cumulative plastic ductility is only approximately 200. If the restrained stiffness of joint is large enough, the stability will be improved as follows: the yielding strength and ultimate strength of BRBs are nearly the same, and there is an obvious strain intensification in both tension and compression phases; the ductility of brace also increases obviously, i.e., the ultimate tension ductility and ultimate compression ductility are both approximately 14, and the cumulative plastic ductility reaches 782.

Assessment of buckling-restrained braced frame reliability using an experimental limit-state model and stochastic dynamic analysis

Buckling-restrained braces （BRBs） have recently become popular in the United States for use as primary members of seismic lateral-force-resisting systems. A BRB is a steel brace that does not buckle in compression but instead yields in both tension and compression. Although design guidelines for BRB applications have been developed, systematic procedures for assessing performance and quantifying reliability are still needed. This paper presents an analytical framework for assessing buckling-restrained braced frame （BRBF） reliability when subjected to seismic loads. This framework efficiently quantifies the risk of BRB failure due to low-cycle fatigue fracture of the BRB core. The procedure includes a series of components that： （1） quantify BRB demand in terms of BRB core deformation histories generated through stochastic dynamic analyses; （2） quantify the limit-state of a BRB in terms of its remaining cumulative plastic ductility capacity based on an experimental database; and （3） evaluate the probability of BRB failure, given the quantified demand and capacity, through structural reliability analyses. Parametric studies were conducted to investigate the effects of the seismic load, and characteristics of the BRB and BRBF on the probability of brace failure. In addition, fragility curves （i.e., conditional probabilities of brace failure given ground shaking intensity parameters） were created by the proposed framework. While the framework presented in this paper is applied to the assessment of BRBFs, the modular nature of the framework components allows for application to other structural components and systems.

Seismic performance of a reinforced concrete building retrofitted with self-centering shape memory alloy braces

Self-centering earthquake-resistant structures have received increased attention due to their ability to reduce post-earthquake residual deformations and,thus,repair time and cost.This stimulated the development of recentering shape memory alloy(SMA)dampers that use superelastic nitinol wires to dissipate energy and self-center the structure.However,there are still a few case studies applications on full-scale RC buildings in the literature.Moreover,general guidelines or even simplified approaches for the practical design of SMA damped braces are still lacking.This paper focuses on evaluating the effect of using self-centering shape memory alloy dampers for buckling-restrained braces applied for the seismic retrofit of a complex RC building structure.A design method originally proposed for elastoplastic dampers was implemented to size the SMA dampers to be placed on selected spans and stories of a building.The effectiveness of the design procedure was demonstrated by nonlinear time-history analyses under different sets of earthquake strong ground motions.The analysis results show that the recentering shape memory alloy bracing system is effective in limiting the maximum transient inter-story drifts and reducing the residual inter-story drifts after strong seismic events,due to its excellent recentering behavior together with its not negligible energy dissipation capacity.

Mathematical modeling and full-scale shaking table tests for multi-curve buckling restrained braces

Buckling restrained braces （BRBs） have been widely applied in seismic mitigation since they were introduced in the 1970s. However, traditional BRBs have several disadvantages caused by using a steel tube to envelope the mortar to prevent the core plate from buckling, such as： complex interfaces between the materials used, uncertain precision, and time consumption during the manufacturing processes. In this study, a new device called the multi-curve buckling restrained brace （MC-BRB） is proposed to overcome these disadvantages. The new device consists of a core plate with multiple neck portions assembled to form multiple energy dissipation segments, and the enlarged segment, lateral support elements and constraining elements to prevent the BRB from buckling. The enlarged segment located in the middle of the core plate can be welded to the lateral support and constraining elements to increase buckling resistance and to prevent them from sliding during earthquakes. Component tests and a series of shaking table tests on a full-scale steel structure equipped with MC-BRBs were carried out to investigate the behavior and capability of this new BRB design for seismic mitigation. The experimental results illustrate that the MC-BRB possesses a stable mechanical behavior under cyclic loadings and provides good protection to structures during earthquakes. Also, a mathematical model has been developed to simulate the mechanical characteristics of BRBs.

Do ankle braces provide similar effects on ankle biomechanical variables in subjects with and without chronic ankle instability during landing?

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to examine effects of a sport version of a semi-rigid ankle brace (ElementTM) and a soft ankle brace (ASO) on ankle biomechanics and ground reaction forces (GRFs) during a drop landing activity in subjects with chronic ankle instability (CAI)compared to healthy subjects with no history of CAI.Methods:Ten healthy subjects and 10 subjects who had multiple ankle sprains participated in the study as the control and unstable subjects,respectively.The CAI subjects were age,body mass index and gender matched with the control subjects.The arch index and ankle functions of the subjects were measured in a subject screening session.During the biomechanical test session,participants performed five trials of drop landing from 0.6 m,wearing no brace ( NB),ElementTM brace and ASO brace.Simultaneous recording of three-dimensional kinematic (240 Hz)and GRF (1200 Hz) data were performed.Results:The CAI subjects had lower ankle functional survey scores.The arch index and deformity results showed greater arch deformity of ElementTM against a static load than in NB and ASO due to greater initial arch position held by the brace.CAI participants had greater eversion velocity than healthy coutrols.The ASO brace reduced the first peak vertical GRF whereas ElementTM increased 2nd peak vertical GRF.ElementTM brace reduced eversion range of motion (ROM) and peak eversion velocity compared to NB and ASO.In addition,ElementTM reduced dorsiflexion ROM and increased peak plantarflexion moment compared to NB and ASO.Conclusion:Results of static arch measurements and dynamic ankle motion suggest that the restrictions offered by both braces are in part due to more dorsiflexed ankle positions at contact,and higher initial arch position and stiffer ankle for ElementTM.

Seismic retrofitting of reinforced concrete frame structures using GFRP-tube-confined-concrete composite braces

This paper presents a new type of structural bracing intended for seismic retrofitting use in framed structures. This special composite brace, termed glass-fiber-reinforced-polymer （GFRP）-tube-confined-concrete composite brace, is comprised of concrete confined by a GFRP tube and an inner steel core for energy dissipation. Together with a contribution from the GFRP-tube confined concrete, the composite brace shows a substantially increased stiffness to control story drift, which is often a preferred feature in seismic retrofitting. An analysis model is established and implemented in a general finite element analysis program - OpenSees, for simulating the load-displacement behavior of the composite brace. Using this model, a parametric study of the hysteretic behavior （energy dissipation, stiffness, ductility and strength） of the composite brace was conducted under static cyclic loading and it was found that the area ratio of steel core to concrete has the greatest influence among all the parameters considered. To demonstrate the application of the composite brace in seismic retrofitting, a three-story nonductile reinforced concrete （RC） frame structure was retrofitted with the composite braces. Pushover analysis and nonlinear time-history analyses of the retrofitted RC frame structure was performed by employing a suite of 20 strong ground motion earthquake records. The analysis results show that the composite braces can effectively reduce the peak seismic responses of the RC frame structure without significantly increasing the base shear demand.

Behavior of double K-BRB braces under lateral loading

The buckling resisting brace(BRB)is an efficient system against lateral loads that enjoy high seismic energy absorption capacity.Although desirable behavior of BRBs has been confirmed,the stiffness of the system is not desirable that it can be compensated by changing the configuration of BRB braces.In so doing,the configuration in the form of double K(DK)is investigated to achieve more favorable behavior.Also,the required mathematical formulas were proposed to design the system.Comparison of DK system with other conventional BRB showed that the DK system has a better structural performance and is more economical(due to needing less core area)than other conventional BRB.Numerical results indicated that the DK system increases the lateral ultimate strength,lateral nonlinear stiffness,and energy absorption.Besides,the DK configuration reduces the axial forces created in columns in the nonlinear zone.Reducing material demand,created forces in the main frame,and also increasing of nonlinear stiffens by DK improve the structure’s safety.

Use of Crescent Shaped Braces for Controlled Seismic Design of Ductile Structures

It is known that the seismic response of a structural system is highly influenced, in addition to the earthquake input, by the dynamic characteristics of the system itself. This paper presents an approach for the identification of the characteristics of the structural system resisting to horizontal loads which enables to satisfy given seismic performance objectives. This is achieved by considering a total conceptual separation between the structural systems resisting to vertical and horizontal loads. The proposed approach is first briefly developed in general within a Performance-Based Seismic Design （PBSD） framework and then fully applied to the case study of a five-storey steel building structure. It is composed of three basic steps： （1） identification of the fundamental characteristics which should be possessed by the horizontal resisting system to satisfy a multiplicity of performance objectives, （2） development of a peculiar horizontal resisting system composed of ＂crescent shaped braces＂ which are specifically calibrated to satisfy given performance objectives, （3） verification, by means of appropriate time-history analyses, of the seismic performances achieved. In detail, the horizontal resisting system is calibrated to satisfy a multiplicity of performance objectives through the identification of an ＂objectives curve＂, in the Force-Displacement diagram, of the mechanical characteristics of the structure. The calibration is obtained by methods/tools borrowed either from Direct Displacement-Based Design （DDBD） or Force-Based Design （FBD）, depending on the specific performance objective to be imposed. The applicative example has been carried out with reference to three performance objectives and has led to the identification of a horizontal resisting system composed of special bracing elements capable of realizing a sort of properly-calibrated seismic isolation called crescent-shaped braces. The results obtained through non-linear dynamic analyses have shown that the proposed approach leads to the congruity between the imposed and the achieved seismic performances.

Design of Dissipative Braces for an Existing Strategic Building with a Pushover Based Procedure

The research presented in this paper deals with the seismic protection of existing frame structures by means of passive energy dissipation. An iterative displacement-based procedure, based on capacity spectrum, to design dissipative bracings for seismic retrofitting of the frame structures is described, and some applications are discussed. The procedure can be used with any typology of dissipative device and for different performance targets. In this work, the procedure has been applied, with both traditional pushover （load profile proportional to first mode） and multimodal pushover, to an existing RC （reinforced concrete） frame building. In the application, the buckling restrained braces have been used in order to prevent damages to both the structure and non structural elements. The use of multimodal pushover proves to be more effective than pushover based on single mode in case of medium rise RC frame building （higher than 30 m） but, once this building is retrofitted, and therefore regularized, with a bracing system, the difference between using monomodal or multimodal pushover becomes insignificant.

Seismic Response of Reinforced Concrete Buildings Retrofitted with Dissipative Steel Braces

The present work discusses the outcomes of recent experimental tests and numerical simulations carried out on full scale reinforced concrete （RC） non-ductile frames retrofitted with dissipative steel braces, i.e. innovative buckling restrained braces （BRBs）. Experimental tests were performed on two sample full scale RC framed buildings designed for gravity loads only. Such frames were subjected to cyclic pushovers to investigate their structural performance under different levels of earthquake loadings. The outcomes of the performed experimental tests demonstrate the efficiency and reliability of utilizing BRBs to retrofit non ductile RC frames. These outcomes were confirmed by refined non linear static and response history analyses carried out on an existing RC school framed building designed without seismic details and retrofitted with BRBs similar to those adopted for the tested full-scale frame. In such sample building the BRBs are placed along the perimeter of the existing frames to minimize the interruption of the functionality of the school and for easy of maintenance in the aftermath of major earthquake ground motions. The seismic performance assessment of the retrofitted structural system is illustrated in a detailed manner. Local and global response quantities are presented. The values of the global overstrength Ω for the case study vary between 2.14 and 2.54 for the retrofitted framed building. The translation ductility μ△-values range between 2.07 and 2.36. The response modification factor （or behaviour factor, namely R- or q-factor） is on average equal to 5.0. Additionally, the estimated maximum axial ductility of the BRBs is about 10. Finally, the cost-effectiveness of the adopted retrofitting scheme is emphasized and further needs for the application of BRBs are highlighted.

Deterministic and probabilistic analysis of great-depth braced excavations:A 32 m excavation case study in Paris

The Fort d’Issy-Vanves-Clamart(FIVC)braced excavation in France is analyzed to provide insights into the geotechnical serviceability assessment of excavations at great depth within deterministic and probabilistic frameworks.The FIVC excavation is excavated at 32 m below the ground surface in Parisian sedimentary basin and a plane-strain finite element analysis is implemented to examine the wall deflections and ground surface settlements.A stochastic finite element method based on the polynomial chaos Kriging metamodel(MSFEM)is then proposed for the probabilistic analyses.Comparisons with field measurements and former studies are carried out.Several academic cases are then conducted to investigate the great-depth excavation stability regarding the maximum horizontal wall deflection and maximum ground surface settlement.The results indicate that the proposed MSFEM is effective for probabilistic analyses and can provide useful insights for the excavation design and construction.A sensitivity analysis for seven considered random parameters is then implemented.The soil friction angle at the excavation bottom layer is the most significant one for design.The soil-wall interaction effects on the excavation stability are also given.

Effect of Variable Concrete Strength on the Behavior of Buckling Restrained Braced Frames under Blast Load

BRBF(buckling restrained braced frame)is a relatively new lateral force resisting system for building structures.BRBFs are used mostly to resist seismic force due to their high ductility after yielding and the ability to absorb higher strain energy.ASCE(American Society of Civil Engineers)first permits the use of BRBFs as a single seismic force-resisting system by quantifying the seismic parameters such as response modification coefficient(R),over-strength factor(Ωo)and deflection amplification factor(Cd)for a structure built with BRBF,in their 2010 code(ASCE 7-10).But it has not been investigated how a structure built with BRBF,which is primarily designed to resist seismic force,and behaves under sudden occurrence of a blast load.This research investigates the performance of a BRBF subjected to blast loading.In other words,this paper focuses on the effect of blast loading on BRBF.The architype for this investigation is a chevron type braced frame.The frame is subjected to a short duration blast load that lasts only 21.7 mili-second(ms).Blast loading effects on the braced frame are assessed by identifying the weakest plane of failure,deformation characteristics and out of plane bending.The research investigates how the properties of the surrounding concrete,especially compressive strength,affect the overall strength of the BRBF on resisting blast loading.It is observed that the compressive strength of the surrounding concrete plays a significant role in reducing the deformation characteristics,both in-plane and out-of-plane.

Nuss procedure for the correction of pectus excavatum by using double braces in adolescence

Objective To investigate the indication,feasibility and technique of minimally invasive Nuss procedure with thoracoscope by using double braces in the treatment of wide-scope pectus excavatum repairing in adolescence. Methods 31 patients including 24 boys and 7 girls,suffered from pectus excavtum were corrected by Nuss procedure under thoracoscope. The average age

关节镜下改良双束修复前交叉韧带Sherman Ⅰ型损伤

背景:前交叉韧带重建术后产生的腘绳肌肌力减弱、髌前区疼痛、重建后较高的骨关节炎发生率及本体感觉丧失等问题导致术后功能恢复不佳;前交叉韧带关节镜下修补结合动态或静态增强修补,保留了原有韧带结构,并取得了良好的近期疗效。目的:观察关节镜下改良双束修复前交叉韧带Sherman Ⅰ型损伤的功能疗效及影像学表现。方法:选择2020年1月至2022年9月在佛山市中医院运动医学科就诊的前交叉韧带损伤患者60例,根据治疗方案分为2组,每组30例,修复组采用双束修补结合内支架固定,重建组采用自体腘绳肌单束解剖重建。术后所有病例随访12个月,分别于术后3,6,12个月评估两组患者国际膝关节评分委员会评分、Lysholm评分及KT-1000患侧-健侧差值。结果与结论:①术后3个月,两组患者的国际膝关节评分委员会评分、Lysholm评分及KT-1000患侧-健侧差值比较差异均有显著性意义(P<0.05),术后功能修复组优于重建组;②术后6,12个月,两组患者的国际膝关节评分委员会评分、Lysholm评分及KT-1000患侧-健侧差值比较差异无显著性意义(P>0.05);③结果表明,前交叉韧带修复保留了原有韧带结构,避免了因重建钻取较大的骨髓道及自体肌腱取出,可减少对原有正常结构的损伤,并发症少,术后早期疗效优于前交叉韧带保残重建,但术后6个月之后两组疗效无明显差异。

Damping characteristics of friction damped braced frame and its effectiveness in the mega-sub controlled structure system

Based on energy dissipation and structural control principle, a new structural configuration, called the megasub controlled structure （MSCS） with friction damped braces （FDBs）, is first presented. Meanwhile, to calculate the damping coefficient in the slipping state a new analytical method is proposed. The damping characteristics of one-storey friction damped braced frame （FDBF） are investigated, and the influence of the structural parameters on the energy dissipation and the practical engineering design are discussed. The nonlinear dynamic equations and the analytical model of the MSCS with FDBs are established. Three building structures with different structural configurations, which were designed with reference to the conventional mega-sub structures such as used in Tokyo City Hall, are comparatively investigated. The results illustrate that the structure presented in the paper has excellent dynamic properties and satisfactory control effectiveness.

Shaking table test and numerical analysis of a 1:12 scale model of a special concentrically braced steel frame with pinned connections

This paper describes shaking table tests of a 1：12 scale model of a special concentrically braced steel frame with pinned connections, which was fabricated according to a one-bay braced frame selected from a typical main factory building of a large thermal power plant. In order to investigate the seismic performance of this type of structure, several ground motion accelerations with different levels for seismic intensity Ⅷ, based on the Chinese Code for Seismic Design of Buildings, were selected to excite the model. The results show that the design methods of the members and the connections are adequate and that the structural system will perform well in regions of high seismicity. In addition to the tests, numerical simulations were also conducted and the results showed good agreement with the test results. Thus, the numerical model is shown to be accurate and the beam element can be used to model this structural system.