Full-Scale Testing of Two-Tiered Steel Buckling-Restrained Braced Frames
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 10
Abstract
A full-scale, two-tiered steel buckling-restrained braced frame (BRBF) was tested to evaluate experimentally the seismic behavior of steel multitiered BRBFs, namely, column stability response, column seismic demands, and tier deformations under a loading protocol representing earthquake ground motions. The test specimen consisted of diagonal braces oriented in opposing directions in the two adjacent tiers to create the most critical multitier response. The test frame was designed in accordance with the 2010 AISC Seismic Provisions as a lateral load-resisting system of a single-story building. The frame was subjected to a three-phase loading protocol consisting of lateral displacement time histories corresponding to a far-field ground motion record and a near-field ground motion record applied sequentially achieving total frame drifts in excess of 3.5%, followed by a final monotonic lateral displacement corresponding to 4.5% story drift. The test frame exhibited a stable response despite a non-uniform distribution of frame inelastic deformation between the tiers, which induced significant in-plane bending moments in the columns. Flexural bending, combined with a large axial compression force, led to partial yielding in the columns. Large deformation demands were also observed in the BRB yielding in tension and attracting the majority of frame lateral deformation. On the basis of test results, a displacement-based analysis approach was proposed to relate column in-plane bending and flexural stiffness to relative inelastic tier deformations.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
Financial and in-kind support for this study was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC), Construction PROCO, DIALOG, Atlas Tube, CoreBrace, and the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). All BRBs and steel sections were donated by CoreBrace. The material for the loading beam was donated by AISC. The authors would like to also thank the students and the staff at Polytechnique Montreal Structural Engineering Laboratory, including Pablo Cano, Christophe Comeau, Simon Bourget, Yazid Cheklat, Dr. Armin Nassirini, Martin Leclerc, Marc-Antoine Bernier, Manar Benslama, Mathieu Robidas, and Céleste Gaudreau, for their help throughout the project. Finally, the support of the CISC Centre for Steel Education and Research (The Steel Centre) at the University of Alberta is greatly acknowledged.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 10 • October 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 13, 2023
Accepted: Mar 12, 2024
Published online: Jul 25, 2024
Published in print: Oct 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Dec 25, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Bracing
- Columns
- Construction engineering
- Construction methods
- Continuum mechanics
- Dynamic loads
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Earthquake engineering
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Frames
- Geotechnical engineering
- Geotechnical investigation
- Ground motion
- Seismic loads
- Seismic tests
- Solid mechanics
- Steel columns
- Steel frames
- Structural dynamics
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Tests (by type)
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