Evaluation of structural response of composite steel-concrete eccentrically buckling-restrained braced frames

The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate the structural response of composite steel-concrete eccentrically buckling-restrained braced frames (BRBFs). The finite element (FE) software ABAQUS is employed to nonlinearly analyse the BRBFs. Comparing the modelling and experimental test results validates the FE modelling method of the BRBF. Three different strong earthquake records of Tabas, Northridge, and Chi-Chi are selected for the nonlinear dynamic analyses. A BRBF is then designed having a shear link. Afterwards, the designed BRBF is analysed under the selected earthquake records using the validated modelling method. The lateral displacements, base shears, and energy dissipations of the frame and shear link rotations are achieved from the analyses of the BRBF. The results are compared and discussed. The obtained BRBF results are also compared with their corresponding steel eccentrically braced frame (EBF) results. It is concluded that the BRBF can generally accomplish the improved structural response compared with the EBF under the earthquake records. Meanwhile, the BRBF has larger base shear capacity than the EBF. Moreover, the BRBF dissipates more energy than the EBF.