Improving Seismic Performance of RC Structures with Innovative TnT BRBs: A Shake Table and Finite Element Investigation
Addressing the critical seismic vulnerabilities of reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column joints remains an imperative research priority in earthquake engineering. This study presents an experimental and analytical investigation into the seismic performance enhancement of non-ductile RC frames using a...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Evrim Oyguc Resat Oyguc Onur Seker Abdul Hayir Jay Shen Bulent Akbas |
| author_facet | Evrim Oyguc Resat Oyguc Onur Seker Abdul Hayir Jay Shen Bulent Akbas |
| author_sort | Evrim Oyguc |
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| description | Addressing the critical seismic vulnerabilities of reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column joints remains an imperative research priority in earthquake engineering. This study presents an experimental and analytical investigation into the seismic performance enhancement of non-ductile RC frames using an innovative all-steel Tube-in-Tube Buckling-Restrained Brace (TnT BRB) system. Shake table tests were performed on one-third scale RC frame specimens, including a baseline structure representing conventional substandard design and a counterpart retrofitted with the proposed TnT BRBs. Experimental results revealed that the unretrofitted specimen experienced pronounced brittle shear failures, excessive lateral deformations, and significant degradation of beam-column joints under cyclic seismic loading. In contrast, the TnT BRB-retrofitted specimen exhibited substantially improved seismic behavior, characterized by enhanced energy dissipation, controlled inter-story drifts, and preserved joint integrity. Advanced fiber-based finite element modeling complemented the experimental efforts, accurately capturing critical nonlinear phenomena such as hysteretic energy dissipation, stiffness degradation, and localized damage evolution within the structural components. Despite inherent modeling limitations regarding bond-slip effects and micro-level cracking, strong correlation between numerical and experimental results affirmed the efficacy of the TnT BRB retrofit solution. This integrated experimental-analytical approach offers a robust, cost-effective pathway for upgrading seismically deficient RC structures in earthquake-prone regions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-840cedca24b04ebc904dae90b4c99a1f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-840cedca24b04ebc904dae90b4c99a1f2025-08-20T03:06:27ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01157384410.3390/app15073844Improving Seismic Performance of RC Structures with Innovative TnT BRBs: A Shake Table and Finite Element InvestigationEvrim Oyguc0Resat Oyguc1Onur Seker2Abdul Hayir3Jay Shen4Bulent Akbas5Institute of Disaster Management, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, TurkeyInstitute of Disaster Management, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, TurkeyCivil Engineering Department, Gebze Technical University, Gebze 41400, Kocaeli, TurkeyCivil Engineering Department, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, TurkeyDepartment of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USACivil Engineering Department, Gebze Technical University, Gebze 41400, Kocaeli, TurkeyAddressing the critical seismic vulnerabilities of reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column joints remains an imperative research priority in earthquake engineering. This study presents an experimental and analytical investigation into the seismic performance enhancement of non-ductile RC frames using an innovative all-steel Tube-in-Tube Buckling-Restrained Brace (TnT BRB) system. Shake table tests were performed on one-third scale RC frame specimens, including a baseline structure representing conventional substandard design and a counterpart retrofitted with the proposed TnT BRBs. Experimental results revealed that the unretrofitted specimen experienced pronounced brittle shear failures, excessive lateral deformations, and significant degradation of beam-column joints under cyclic seismic loading. In contrast, the TnT BRB-retrofitted specimen exhibited substantially improved seismic behavior, characterized by enhanced energy dissipation, controlled inter-story drifts, and preserved joint integrity. Advanced fiber-based finite element modeling complemented the experimental efforts, accurately capturing critical nonlinear phenomena such as hysteretic energy dissipation, stiffness degradation, and localized damage evolution within the structural components. Despite inherent modeling limitations regarding bond-slip effects and micro-level cracking, strong correlation between numerical and experimental results affirmed the efficacy of the TnT BRB retrofit solution. This integrated experimental-analytical approach offers a robust, cost-effective pathway for upgrading seismically deficient RC structures in earthquake-prone regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/3844seismic retrofittingreinforced concrete beam-column jointsTube-in-Tube Buckling-Restrained Bracesshake table testing |
| spellingShingle | Evrim Oyguc Resat Oyguc Onur Seker Abdul Hayir Jay Shen Bulent Akbas Improving Seismic Performance of RC Structures with Innovative TnT BRBs: A Shake Table and Finite Element Investigation Applied Sciences seismic retrofitting reinforced concrete beam-column joints Tube-in-Tube Buckling-Restrained Braces shake table testing |
| title | Improving Seismic Performance of RC Structures with Innovative TnT BRBs: A Shake Table and Finite Element Investigation |
| title_full | Improving Seismic Performance of RC Structures with Innovative TnT BRBs: A Shake Table and Finite Element Investigation |
| title_fullStr | Improving Seismic Performance of RC Structures with Innovative TnT BRBs: A Shake Table and Finite Element Investigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving Seismic Performance of RC Structures with Innovative TnT BRBs: A Shake Table and Finite Element Investigation |
| title_short | Improving Seismic Performance of RC Structures with Innovative TnT BRBs: A Shake Table and Finite Element Investigation |
| title_sort | improving seismic performance of rc structures with innovative tnt brbs a shake table and finite element investigation |
| topic | seismic retrofitting reinforced concrete beam-column joints Tube-in-Tube Buckling-Restrained Braces shake table testing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/3844 |
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