Resumo

GUERRERO, Héctor; ZAMORA, Emmanuel; ESCOBAR, J. Alberto  e  GOMEZ, Roberto. Experimental Behavior of a Low-Cost Seismic Energy Dissipation Device. Ing. sísm [online]. 2020, n.102, pp.65-81.  Epub 07-Out-2020. ISSN 0185-092X.  https://doi.org/10.18867/ris.102.507.

Safety during earthquakes should be a human right and shall be accessible not only to those who can pay for proprietary high-tech devices but to everyone. Based on that, this study has been developed with the intention of helping to improve the seismic safety in the developing world. Within this paper, a low-cost, low-tech seismic energy dissipation device is proposed. Its experimental behavior under seismic loading is assessed. The device type is buckling-restrained brace (BRB) and, according to its characteristics, it is suitable for new and existing, medium- to low-rise structures. First, the device characteristics and fabrication process are presented. Then, its structural response, in terms of the hysteretic behavior, ductility, and dissipated energy - as obtained from experimental tests - is shown. Experimental results show an excellent behavior of the proposed device. As a result, it can be said that the device is reliable and its use is recommended for new, and retrofitting/upgrading existing, structures. Design recommendations are also provided.

Palavras-chave : buckling-restrained braces (BRBs); seismic energy dissipation device; passive dissipation; experimental test under seismic loads.