COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE SEISMIC PERFORMANCE OF FRAMES USING DIFFERENT DISSIPATIVE BRACES

Different kinds of dissipative braces and their models are described. A numerical investigation is carried out considering the nonlinear seismic response of unbraced and damped braced frames. More precisely, a typical five-storey reinforced concrete (r.c.) frame, which is designed according to Eurocode 8, is considered. To protect the frame, the following dissipative braces are supposed inserted into the frame itself: cross-braces with hysteretic (friction or yielding) dampers, chevron braces with viscoelastic damper, diagonal brace with viscous damper. The effects produced by the dissipative braces on the response of the framed structure are evaluated assuming different properties of the frame members, braces and dissipative devices. Aspects concerning the behaviour and modelling of the dissipative braces are discussed.