A partially buckling-restrained brace with T-shaped double core for seismic retrofit: Experimental study, numerical analysis, and local stability design

A novel partially buckling-restrained brace with T-shaped double core (PTBRB) was proposed for the seismic retrofit of existing T-shaped steel members consisting of two separated steel angles. The retrofitting scheme primarily comprises two external steel angles and one cover plate which are bolted to serve as restrainer to prevent global buckling of existing T-shaped steel members. Cyclic tests were performed to verify the effectiveness of the retrofitting scheme and evaluate the PTBRB performance as seismic fuse. The results showed that adoption of the retrofitting scheme had negligible influence on the elastic stiffness of the T-shaped steel members, but their axial compression force capacity was increased by 60 %. The PTBRB specimens exhibited full hysteresis before failure, with the best ductility coefficient and cumulative plastic deformation capacity of 11.83 and 523, respectively. The controlled buckling mode of the PTBRB was identified by numerical analysis, and the results showed that the local buckling of a single steel angle member was responsible for the stiffness degradation of the PTBRB hysteresis. Theoretical local stability analysis of PTBRB was carried out according to Bleich's theory and Lundquist's theory and the test results confirm that the Bleich's theory is more reliable for predicting the theoretical inelastic critical load. The maximum compression capacity of the PTBRB corresponding to the local stability requirement of a single steel angle member is proposed to achieve the seismic fuse function, which is further validated by numerical analysis.

Automated summary

A novel PTBRB was proposed and tested for seismic retrofitting of existing T-shaped steel members. The retrofitting scheme effectively increased the axial compression force capacity of the steel members without affecting their elastic stiffness. PTBRB specimens exhibited high ductility and cumulative plastic deformation capacity. Numerical analysis identified the controlled buckling mode and theoretical stability analysis confirmed the reliability of Bleich's theory. The maximum compression capacity of PTBRB was proposed and validated as the seismic fuse function.