Seismic performance of friction-damped steel frames integrated with resilient tension-only braces

Abstract Conventional friction-based damping devices are known for their large energy dissipation capacity and economic benefits compared to other seismic mitigation systems available for steel structures. These devices have been implemented in many practical projects around the world since their introduction to the construction industry during the 1980s. From that time, not only did the building standards have evolved and become more demanding, but also stricter controls are proposed for the design of low damage seismic-resistant structures. This paper presents the integration of self-centring friction-based tension-only braces with friction-damped braced frames for the application in high importance steel structures. With the proposed concept, the structure is able to resist intense earthquakes whilst the inter-storey drifts are controlled within the desired range. Furthermore, the self-centring capability of the structure is significantly improved compared to systems with only conventional friction-damped braces. A step-by-step procedure for this integration is provided and applied to a case study structure. The numerical results showed that the designed structure could satisfy the criteria related to high importance buildings with significantly improved performance characteristics. The findings of this paper confirm that the introduced concept has the potential to be considered as an alternative solution for seismic resilient steel structures.