Seismic Retrofitting of RC Buildings using Buckling Restrained Braces

In this study, the application of buckling restrained braces (BRBs) for retrofitting irregular gravity load designed (GLD) RC buildings is presented. A typical six story residential building with a soft/weak first story taken from field survey data in Bangladesh is investigated. The seismic performance evaluation of the building is performed using 3D nonlinear dynamic time history analysis in OpenSees. Moreover, this recent retrofit technique using BRBs is compared with traditional retrofit techniques such as concrete jacketing and adding masonry infill walls. The analysis results are presented in terms of roof drift time history, maximum floor displacement, maximum story drift, maximum story shear, and location where damages occur during the analysis. From the results, it can be concluded that BRBs can significantly improve the seismic performance of the GLD building. The retrofitted GLD building using BRBs can withstand up to severe earthquake without collapse. Moreover, as compared to traditional retrofit techniques, it seems that BRBs give a better solution in terms of the seismic performance, effect to the building's occupancy, and post-earthquake repairing or rehabilitation.