PERFORMANCE VERIFICATION BY QUASI-STATIC LOADING TESTS AND TIME HISTORY RESPONSE ANALYSIS OF DISPLACEMENT RESTRAINT BRACE WITH PRESTRESSED DISC SPRINGS

Abstract

A new type of PC steel bar brace for moment resistance steel frames has been proposed, which is called Displacement Restraint PC steel bar Brace (DRB). Prestressed disc springs at the ends of the DRB provide initial stiffness to the DRB. Free-fall contact tests were conducted with and without disc springs at the end of the DRB to confirm the impact load at contact. Quasi-static loading tests were also conducted to confirm the motion of the ends of the DRB and the impact load at contact under inter-story deformation at a certain frequency and amplitude. Furthermore, the effectiveness of providing initial displacements and initial stiffnesses is confirmed by time history response analyses.