Application of Polyethylene Sheets in Buc ling Restrained Braces

This paper presents an experimental study about applicability of Buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) by polyethylene sheets. Buckling-restraining unit (encasing member), whose function is to prevent the brace from buckling, is almost tube that is filled by concrete or mortar and has many problems and difficulties as concreting, shuttering, curing, reinforcing, transporting and wasting of time. This research shows that polyethylene can be used as Buckling-restraining unit instead of steel tube and concrete or mortar. And also they can be used as a reducer of compressive forces at steel braces for strengthening the existing building. The advantages of this innovative and new method are save the time, light weighting, economic, easy and quick installation, decreasing the construction problems, no need to shuttering and curing.