Experiment study of buckling-restrained brace and PFD-BRB system

A new-typed PFD-BRB frictional damping brace system is put forward, whose Pall´s frictional damping (PFD) braces are buckling restrained braces (BRB) instead of conventional braces. Static cyclic tests were conducted on steel buckling-restrained braces (BRB) and PFD-BRB system. The results demonstrate a desirable hysteretic behavior and energy absorption capacity. The PFD-BRB system can undergo fully-reversed axial yield cycles, the hysteretic loop of damper is full, and the BRB is also confirmed to have nearly the same yielding stress and ultimate strength under tension and compression. The results calculated by using the ANSYS are similar to those from the tests, which demonstrate the validity of the model and parameters of the brace.