Parametric Investigation of Cyclic Behavior of Buckling Restrained Braces (PCBRB)

The current research investigated parameters affecting cyclic behaviour of perforated core buckling restrained braces (PCBRB) (e.g. section thickness, materials and geometry of core holes). In the current research, modelling and numerical analysis of 8 specimens of PCBRBs were performed using ABAQUS software under cyclic load. A reference specimen with a thickness of 10 mm modelled and validated exactly based on laboratory specimen, 4 specimens by changing core thickness, 2 specimens by changing core geometry and 1 specimen by changing core material used. Results indicate that by increasing thickness, an increase will be seen in bearing capacity. Due to more hardness, the model with thickness of 15 mm bears a greater force, but for having less ductility, it has a higher resistance drop at tensile region. The model with circular holes performs the best. In comparison to models with elliptic and rectangular holes, this model buckles very later in the pressure zone and it has a higher bearing capacity and energy dissipation. The model with rectangular holes in the core has a low performance; in a way that in the pressure zone of hysteresis curve its performance does not even reach to half of the bearing capacity and ultimate strength of the model with circular core geometry. Aluminium core brace bears less force during loading in contrast to steel core brace, but this shortage is compensated for by later local buckling in the pressure zone.