The seismic performance of a new PBL-type connection in buckling-restrained braced reinforced concrete frames

Buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) are excellent energy-dissipating members, which are widely used in engineering structures. When BRBs are added to reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures, the connection between the beam and column joints and the BRBs usually becomes a key and difficult issue in the design. The conventional joint connection adopts welds between the gusset plate and the steel embedded parts of the concrete beams and columns, and then connects the BRB through the gusset plate. However, the opening and closing effect of the frame and the cycle loading caused by earthquakes may make the welds and joints susceptive to premature fracture. Therefore, this paper proposed a perfobond strip connector (PBL) gusset plate connection and applied it to RC frame structures. The design approach of the gusset plate and PBL connection was provided based on the generalized uniform force method. Based on this, the joint of a BRB-RC frame structure was designed, and finite element simulation and experimental analyses of the joints were carried out. The results showed that the connections in BRB-RC frames exhibited significant strength capacity, that the plastic hinge at the beam ends were transferred outside the connection region, and that the strength and energy dissipation capacity of the BRB were considerable. The proposed connection of BRBs and RC frames is effective and reliable, which significantly improves the seismic performance of the structure. Copyright ©2022 Engineering Mechanics. All rights reserved.