On Improved Seismic Brace considering Rehabilitation of Safe Shelter

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This research proposes a brace whose strength, plastic deformation capacity remaining after yield and energy absorption capacity under seismic loading can be easily evaluated for performance-based seismic design. The proposed brace consists of a slender rod with tensile-connected ends incorporating a beveled washer and wedge. There is no buckling in the brace. The wedge slides between a washer and stand so as to prevent brace looseness due to axial plastic deformation under repeated loading.To verify the brace's mechanism and performance, repeated horizontal loading tests were performed on a one-story bay frame with a tensile-connected brace having a wedge device.Results and conclusions obtained from the loading tests and shaking table tests are summarized as follows.(1)Perfect elasto-plastic hysteresis was observed until the wedge's sliding displacement reached its maximum.(2)Story shear stress, strength and energy absorption capacity were easily evaluated.(3)Plastic deformation capacity remaining after an earthquake can be evaluated by checking the wedge's total sliding displacement.(4)Performance-based design can be easily achieved with this brace.