Buckling restrained brace with lightweight construction

Abstract

A buckling restrained brace comprises a core member, core restrainer member sections and a jacket member. The core member has two opposite ends. The core restrainer member sections are configured to be arranged around the core member. The jacket member comprises fiber reinforced polymers configured to be wrapped around the core restrainer member sections and core member to couple the core restrainer member sections to the core member such that the core restrainer member sections and jacket member cooperate to provide greater resistance to buckling of the core member when the brace is subjected to compression. In some implementations, the brace has a weight less than about 50% of a weight of a conventional buckling restrained brace of similar length and having a steel core and mortar-filled tubular core restrainer member of comparable cross-sectional areas, respectively.

1 . A buckling restrained brace, comprising:
 a core member having two opposite ends;   core restrainer member sections configured to be arranged around the core member;   a jacket member comprising fiber reinforced polymers configured to be wrapped around the core restrainer member sections and core member to couple the core restrainer member sections to the core member, wherein the core restrainer member sections and jacket member cooperate to provide greater resistance to buckling of the core member when the brace is subjected to compression.   
     
     
         2 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the brace has a weight less than about 50% of a weight of a conventional buckling restrained brace of similar length and having a steel core and mortar-filled tubular core restrainer member of comparable cross-sectional areas, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core member has a cross section defining at least one pair of opposed spaces configured to receive a respective number of core restrainer member sections. 
     
     
         4 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core member has a T-shaped cross section defining two opposed spaces, wherein each of the two spaces is configured to receive one of the core restrainer sections. 
     
     
         5 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 4 , wherein the core member is comprised of two angled sub-members defining a T-shape when positioned adjacent each other. 
     
     
         6 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core member has a cross section defining at least four separated spaces, wherein each of the spaces is configured to receive one of the core restrainer sections. 
     
     
         7 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core member is comprised of four angled sub-members, and the angled sub-members are arranged such that the vertices are adjacent each other in a cross section of the core member. 
     
     
         8 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core member is comprised of two T-shaped sub-members, and the T-shaped sub-members are arranged opposite to each other in a cross section of the core member. 
     
     
         9 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core restrainer members are tubular and have a rectangular cross section. 
     
     
         10 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core restrainer members are tubular and have a circular cross section. 
     
     
         11 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket member is sized to extend over an intermediate portion of the core member between the two opposite ends. 
     
     
         12 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core member is formed of a ductile material. 
     
     
         13 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core member is formed of an aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         14 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core member comprises at least two core member sections, further comprising at least one spacer member positioned between the core member sections. 
     
     
         15 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one spacer member is formed of at least one of a plastic material and fiber reinforced polymers. 
     
     
         16 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket member comprises at least one layer of fabric material applied at different angles relative to the core member. 
     
     
         17 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the jacket member comprises at least one layer of fabric material applied at an angle of about 30 degrees relative to an axis of the core member. 
     
     
         18 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core member is configured to dissipate seismic energy through substantially reversible cyclic plastic strain. 
     
     
         19 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core member, core restrainer member sections, and jacket member are constructed of materials selected to reduce corrosion from exposure to environmental conditions. 
     
     
         20 . The buckling restrained brace of  claim 1 , wherein the core member, core restrainer sections and jacket member are configured to allow the core and the core restrainer sections to translate relative to each other under predefined loading conditions imposed on the brace.