Experimental Study on High-Performance Buckling-Restrained Braces with Perforated Core Plates

The compressive deformation is mainly contributed by axial compressive deformation and high-order in-plane and out-of-plane global buckling deformation for conventional buckling-restrained braces (BRBs). A novel type of all-steel BRBs with perforated core plates, termed as perforated BRBs (PBRBs), are proposed in this study, where shear deformation can occur in addition to the aforementioned deformations in a conventional BRB under compression. Experimental study was carried out using five specimens with different configurations of holes under cyclic loading. Stable hysteretic properties, high ductility, and energy dissipation capacity were obtained for the PBRBs. The effects of two parameters, i.e. the slenderness ratio of the chord and hole spacing factor defined as the ratio of the hole length to the hole spacing, on seismic performance of the specimens were investigated. The compressive deformation mechanisms of the PBRBs were further investigated through a numerical study. The compressive deformation was found to be composed of axial compressive deformation, flexural deformation owing to in-plane and out-of-plane global buckling, and in-plane shear deformation of the latticed core plate.