Journal of Chongqing University (English Edition) [ISSN 1671-8224]
Vol. 11 No. 4
December 2012
Article ID: 1671-8224(2012)04-0151-10
To cite this article: WANG Da-peng, YU An-lin, XUE Li-ming. Seismic performance testing of reinforcement concrete frames strengthened with Y-eccentrically brace [J]. J
Chongqing Univ: Eng Ed [ISSN 1671-8224], 2012, 11(4): 151-160.
Seismic performance testing of reinforcement concrete
frames strengthened with Y-eccentrically brace
WANG Da-peng
1,2,†
, YU An-lin
1,2
, XUE Li-ming
2
1
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Structural Engineering, Suzhou 215011, P. R. China
2
School of Civil Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215011, P. R. China
Received 9 April 2012; received in revised form 12 May 2012
Abstract: Two single-storey single-span reinforcement concrete (RC) frame structures strengthened with Y-eccentrically brace
were designed and manufactured to be 1/3 scale. The pseudo-dynamic testing method was used to study the mechanical
characteristics and the seismic performance under El-Centro earthquake action with different peak acceleration adjusted by
China’s Code for Seismic Design of Buildings. The test results indicate that RC frame structures strengthened with Y-
eccentrically steel brace present perfect seismic performance under strong earthquake action owing to the good ductility, strong
bearing capability and fine energy absorbing capability provided by energy dissipation element and high lateral stiffness provided
by diagonal braces. The seismic performance is also affected by the length of outsourcing steel at the joint between energy
dissipation element of eccentric steel brace and RC frame beam. The joint should be considerably designed to make sure that
shear failure can firstly occur in energy dissipation element.
Keywords: Y-eccentrically steel brace; energy dissipation element; pseudo-dynamic test; seismic performance; shear failure
CLC number: TU311 Document code: A
1 Introduction
a
In recent years, using steel braces among
reinforcement concrete (RC) frame columns has been
an effective way for energy dissipation and vibration
damping through a large number of theoretical and
experimental verification. It also has been proved that
this technology is easy to fit in with China’s Code for
Seismic Design of Buildings and greatly fit for the
energy dissipation requirements of high-rise building
structures. The theoretical principle of steel frames
strengthened with eccentric steel brace has been
extensively researched and thoroughly understood
[1-11]
.
†
WANG Da-peng (王大鹏): wangdapeng@mail.usts.edu.cn.
Funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant
No. 51078248) and the Priority Academic Program Development
of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).
In thus structures, the lateral stiffness and bearing
capacity are enhanced by eccentric steel brace, and the
energy input by the earthquake action is dissipated by
the shear yield of an energy dissipation element, which
enables to improve the seismic performance of
structures. This kind of eccentric steel brace with
unique advantages also has been applied in
reinforcement and reconstruction of RC structures
recently. But it should be noted that there are still some
critical problems on eccentric steel brace in RC
structures because of the lack of theoretical and
experimental research and relatively few engineering
examples. One of the prominent problems is that the
joint between the energy dissipation element of an
eccentric steel brace and an RC frame beam is more
sophisticated than that in a steel frame. The joint is in a
very complex stress state subjected to moment, shear
and axial forces at the same time. Under this
background, research on the mechanical characteristics