Buckling Restrained Brace

Buckling-Restrained Brace

The Buckling-Restrained Brace (BRB) consists of three parts: a steel core, restraining components, and isolation materials. The middle section of the steel core needs to be processed into a working section with a reduced cross-section, which can yield and dissipate energy when reaching the preset deformation. The restraining components are made of concrete-filled steel pipes or reinforced concrete and are wrapped around the steel core, having the function of preventing the steel core from buckling under low-order compression. The isolation materials are thin films with a preset thickness made of composite materials such as silica gel and rubber, which are laid between the steel core and the restraining components to ensure that the steel core can undergo free axial deformation.

Compared with ordinary steel braces, Buckling-Restrained Braces (BRBs) have the following advantages: They can not only provide stiffness to the building structure but also offer equivalent additional damping, possessing the dual functions of braces and dampers. In the event of a strong earthquake, they can not only yield to dissipate energy but also maintain their bearing capacity, with sufficient strength and ductility reserves. Compared with viscous damping vibration reduction technology, Buckling-Restrained Braces have the following advantages: The production cost of the product is relatively low; it requires no maintenance on a daily basis; it can provide both stiffness and damping simultaneously; and it can be used compatibly with viscous damping vibration reduction technology. Compared with traditional seismic technologies, it provides additional damping and reduces the seismic effect; it has the function of protecting the main structure under frequent earthquakes, designed earthquakes, and rare earthquakes, facilitating performance-based design; it avoids on-site wet work and has a short construction period; and it results in a low life-cycle cost of the building. In addition, it can be arranged in V-shaped, herringbone-shaped, or single-slope-shaped configurations; it can adopt multiple connection forms such as bolt connections, hinged connections, and welded connections, making construction convenient.