Seismic performance of braced frame structure with double-cylinder arc energy dissipator.

A new type of braced frame structure with a double-cylinder arc energy dissipator is proposed in this paper. The energy dissipator is composed of an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, and a stiffener fabricated and connected to a steel beam and column by welding, and the double cylinder arc energy dissipator is connected to a steel beam and steel column by welding. The seismic performance of the braced frame structure with a double-cylinder arc energy dissipator was analyzed by Abaqus. The results indicated that seismic energy could be dissipated through the deformation of the outer cylinder, inner cylinder, and rib plate. However, the double-cylinder arc energy dissipator could avoid the out-of-plane buckling deformation of the brace. Further, it exhibited properties similar to those of concentrically and eccentrically braced frames. The deformation of the braced frame with a double-cylinder arc energy dissipator mainly occurred on the dissipator and energy-dissipating beam (between the dissipator and column). During the loading process, the stiffener, outer and inner cylinders, and beam gradually yield. The height, thickness, and spacing of the stiffener of the double-cylinder arc energy dissipator were observed to significantly influence the seismic performance of the proposed braced frame. In contrast, the effect of the thicknesses of the inner and outer cylinder arcs on performance was negligible. • Seismic performance of braced frame structure with double cylinder arc energy dissipation was studied. • The initial stiffness, linear stiffness, and bearing capacity of the structures under monotonic load were studied. • Energy dissipation capacity, degradation property, failure, and deformation modes under low-cyclic loading were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]