Innovative Steel Braced Frame Systems for Enhanced Seismic Performance

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Steel braced frames are among the most popular structural systems used to resist wind and earthquake lateral loads imposed to building structures. The system is very effective when responding in the elastic range as is the case under wind and small earthquakes. However, the system has been shown to exhibit poor performance under strong earthquakes such as large plastic deformations and significant permanent deformations. Higher seismic design loads, stringent height limits and other requirements have been implemented in codes to achieve minimum safety to the public. These have increased construction costs and limited the range of application of the system and building owners are likely to face long downtime periods as well as major repair/reconstruction costs after a major seismic event, which will result in major losses for the Canadian economy.