Self-Centering Energy Dissipative Bracing System for the Seismic Resistance of Structures: Development and Validation

Buildings designed according to modern seismic codes are expected to develop a controlled ductile inelastic response during major earthquakes, implying extensive structural damage after a design level earthquake, along with possibly substantial residual deformations. To address this drawback of traditional yielding systems, a new bracing system that can undergo large axial deformations without structural damage while providing stable energy dissipation capacity and a restoring force has recently been developed. The proposed bracing member exhibits a repeatable flag-shaped hysteretic response with full recentering capabilities, therefore eliminating residual deformations. The mechanics of this new system are…

• CR
  Canada Research Chairs
• UO
  University of Toronto
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada