Research and Application of Buckling-Restrained Braced Frames

After the 1994 Northridge and 1995 Kobe earthquakes, buckling-restrained braced frames have emerged as one of the most promising structural systems to gain quick acceptance by the design profession. This paper provides a review of past research on this frame system at the component, subassemblage, and frame levels. Despite its excellent cyclic performance at the component (or brace) level, recent tests at the subassemblage and frame levels do show some potential problems in gusset design that require further research. Differences in design philosophy between Japan and the U.S. lead to the codification of this structural system for a simplified seismic design procedure in the U.S.