Modeling of Buckling Restrained Braces (BRBs) using Full-Scale Experimental Data

Hysteretic performance of buckling restrained braces (BRBs) having various core materials, namely, steel and aluminum alloy and with various end connections are numerically investigated. As a computational tool, nonlinear finite element analyses (FEAs) are performed to better model the hysteretic behavior. For the simulation, various aspects such as 1) stress — strain relationship including the strain hardening effect 2) von Mises yield criterion 3) contact surface parameters between the core metal and surrounding high strength grout and 4) friction are defined. Experimental results from near-full scale cyclic tests on two steel core BRBs having steel casing as a restraining environment (named as BRB-SC4 and BRB-SC5) and an aluminum alloy core & aluminum alloy casing tube (named as BRB-AC3) are used in the analyses. All cyclically tested specimens have been designed according to AISC Seismic Provisions. Numerical results obtained from 3D models developed in ANSYS-Workbench give satisfactory response parameters when compared with the experimental ones (e.g., hysteretic curves, dissipated energies). Further, a convergence analysis regarding element numbers in the developed model is conducted for each BRB specimen. Finally, key issues that influence the hysteretic modeling of BRBs are identified.