Seismic response and performance of buckling-restrained braced frames

As the use of buckling-restrained braced frames (BRBFs) has increased in the United States, the need has grown for knowledge about member and system behavior under seismic loads and for implementing this knowledge into design provisions. In particular, methods for designing BRBFs and predicting seismic response require validation. To address this need, along with the need for experiments demonstrating system-level BRBF performance, a research program composed of numerical and large-scale experimental simulations was initiated at the ATLSS Center, Lehigh University. This paper describes the nonlinear dynamic analyses that were conducted as part of this research program. Numerical simulations of BRBF response were conducted using ground motion records scaled to two seismic hazard levels. The performance of the prototype BRBF was acceptable and performance objectives were met in terms of structural damage. It is shown that the currently accepted deflection amplification factor underestimates mean inelastic lateral displacements under design-level earthquakes and the system overstrength factor may be unconservative. The current method for predicting BRB maximum ductility demands is also shown to be unconservative and a more rigorous method for predicting BRB maximum ductility demands is provided.