Experimental Evaluation of an Innovative Tube-in-Tube Buckling Restrained Braces for Seismic Retrofitting of Substandard RC Frames
The process of seismic retrofitting for inadequate RC frames is vital for enhancing structural integrity in areas susceptible to earthquakes. This research investigates a novel tube-in-tube (TnT) buckling restrained brace (BRB) system aimed at improving the seismic performance of these substandard R...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4662 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849322490294173696 |
|---|---|
| author | Evrim Oyguc Resat Oyguc Onur Seker Abdul Hayır Jay Shen Bulent Akbas |
| author_facet | Evrim Oyguc Resat Oyguc Onur Seker Abdul Hayır Jay Shen Bulent Akbas |
| author_sort | Evrim Oyguc |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The process of seismic retrofitting for inadequate RC frames is vital for enhancing structural integrity in areas susceptible to earthquakes. This research investigates a novel tube-in-tube (TnT) buckling restrained brace (BRB) system aimed at improving the seismic performance of these substandard RC frames. By targeting significant weaknesses inherent in older RC constructions, the TnT BRB introduces a lightweight, all-steel configuration that eliminates the need for traditional mortar or concrete infill materials. Experimental shake table testing on two one-third scaled RC frame models was conducted to compare the seismic performance of an unretrofitted control frame and a frame retrofitted with the TnT BRB system. Results indicate significant enhancements in lateral strength, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity in the retrofitted frame, demonstrating stable and symmetrical hysteresis loops and reduced stiffness degradation compared to conventional X-braced systems. Analytical modeling corroborated these experimental findings, confirming the TnT BRB’s superior capability in absorbing seismic energy and preventing premature structural failures. This investigation emphasizes both the practical and financial benefits of integrating the TnT BRB into seismic retrofitting strategies while recommending further research to optimize the system, specifically addressing issues related to local denting, frictional wear, and alignment to bolster its effectiveness in practical applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a8668d4b21f74d4694398b5bc8daaac6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-a8668d4b21f74d4694398b5bc8daaac62025-08-20T03:49:22ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01159466210.3390/app15094662Experimental Evaluation of an Innovative Tube-in-Tube Buckling Restrained Braces for Seismic Retrofitting of Substandard RC FramesEvrim Oyguc0Resat Oyguc1Onur Seker2Abdul Hayır3Jay 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, TurkeyConstruction and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-2011, USACivil Engineering Department, Gebze Technical University, Gebze 41400, Kocaeli, TurkeyThe process of seismic retrofitting for inadequate RC frames is vital for enhancing structural integrity in areas susceptible to earthquakes. This research investigates a novel tube-in-tube (TnT) buckling restrained brace (BRB) system aimed at improving the seismic performance of these substandard RC frames. By targeting significant weaknesses inherent in older RC constructions, the TnT BRB introduces a lightweight, all-steel configuration that eliminates the need for traditional mortar or concrete infill materials. Experimental shake table testing on two one-third scaled RC frame models was conducted to compare the seismic performance of an unretrofitted control frame and a frame retrofitted with the TnT BRB system. Results indicate significant enhancements in lateral strength, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity in the retrofitted frame, demonstrating stable and symmetrical hysteresis loops and reduced stiffness degradation compared to conventional X-braced systems. Analytical modeling corroborated these experimental findings, confirming the TnT BRB’s superior capability in absorbing seismic energy and preventing premature structural failures. This investigation emphasizes both the practical and financial benefits of integrating the TnT BRB into seismic retrofitting strategies while recommending further research to optimize the system, specifically addressing issues related to local denting, frictional wear, and alignment to bolster its effectiveness in practical applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4662structural resilienceshake table testingtube-in-tube buckling restrained braces |
| spellingShingle | Evrim Oyguc Resat Oyguc Onur Seker Abdul Hayır Jay Shen Bulent Akbas Experimental Evaluation of an Innovative Tube-in-Tube Buckling Restrained Braces for Seismic Retrofitting of Substandard RC Frames Applied Sciences structural resilience shake table testing tube-in-tube buckling restrained braces |
| title | Experimental Evaluation of an Innovative Tube-in-Tube Buckling Restrained Braces for Seismic Retrofitting of Substandard RC Frames |
| title_full | Experimental Evaluation of an Innovative Tube-in-Tube Buckling Restrained Braces for Seismic Retrofitting of Substandard RC Frames |
| title_fullStr | Experimental Evaluation of an Innovative Tube-in-Tube Buckling Restrained Braces for Seismic Retrofitting of Substandard RC Frames |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental Evaluation of an Innovative Tube-in-Tube Buckling Restrained Braces for Seismic Retrofitting of Substandard RC Frames |
| title_short | Experimental Evaluation of an Innovative Tube-in-Tube Buckling Restrained Braces for Seismic Retrofitting of Substandard RC Frames |
| title_sort | experimental evaluation of an innovative tube in tube buckling restrained braces for seismic retrofitting of substandard rc frames |
| topic | structural resilience shake table testing tube-in-tube buckling restrained braces |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4662 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT evrimoyguc experimentalevaluationofaninnovativetubeintubebucklingrestrainedbracesforseismicretrofittingofsubstandardrcframes AT resatoyguc experimentalevaluationofaninnovativetubeintubebucklingrestrainedbracesforseismicretrofittingofsubstandardrcframes AT onurseker experimentalevaluationofaninnovativetubeintubebucklingrestrainedbracesforseismicretrofittingofsubstandardrcframes AT abdulhayır experimentalevaluationofaninnovativetubeintubebucklingrestrainedbracesforseismicretrofittingofsubstandardrcframes AT jayshen experimentalevaluationofaninnovativetubeintubebucklingrestrainedbracesforseismicretrofittingofsubstandardrcframes AT bulentakbas experimentalevaluationofaninnovativetubeintubebucklingrestrainedbracesforseismicretrofittingofsubstandardrcframes |