Buckling control of cast modular ductile bracing system for seismic-resistant steel frames

The buckling behavior of a new ductile bracing concept for steel structures is examined. The system makes use of cast components introduced at the ends and the center of the brace to produce a special bracing detail with reliable strength, stiffness and deformation capacity. The system takes advantage of the versatility in geometry offered by the casting process to create configurations that eliminate non-ductile failure modes in favor of stable inelastic deformation capacity. This paper presents analytical research performed to determine the buckling strength and buckling direction of the bracing element based on the geometries of the cast components. Limiting geometries are determined for the cast components to control the buckling direction. Design formulas for buckling strength are proposed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.