Experimental study demonstrates consistent scaling laws between 1:2 reduced and full-scale steel buckling-restrained braces, indicating the validity of cost-effective subscale seismic testing.
Buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) are widely used in seismic engineering for stable hysteretic behavior and superior energy dissipation. Yet full-scale testing of large-tonnage BRBs is impractical due to laboratory loading and space constraints. While reduced-scale specimens serve as alternatives, BRB size effect research remains scarce. Based on the second similarity theorem, this study derives geometric and mechanical scaling laws and proposes a design-evaluation method validated via low-cycle tests on 1:2 and full-scale LY160 steel-core BRBs. Results show strong agreement between experimental data and theoretical ratios, satisfying similarity theory and ANSI/AISC 341-10, laying a theoretical basis for cost-effective large BRB testing.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Hu et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: