Hysteretic behavior and failure mechanism of an assembled self-centering brace

This study proposes a self-centering brace that can be easily assembled. It incorporates disc springs and friction pads to provide recentering force and energy dissipation, respectively. To analyze the hysteretic behavior of the assembled self-centering brace (ASCB), a hysteretic model based on the working mechanism of the ASCB is proposed. A modified Bouc–Wen model is developed to predict the behavior of the brace. A 1.336 m ASCB was designed and fabricated, and its hysteretic behavior was evaluated by cyclic testing. Results shows the full flag-shaped response of the ASCB and confirms the validity of the modified Bouc–Wen model. Fatigue and destructive tests verifies the stability of recentering and energy dissipation behaviors under cyclic loading with large axial deformation. After 50 cyclic loadings with an axial deformation ratio of 1.1%, the hysteretic behavior of the brace is stable, and the change in the maximum axial force is less than 4.2%. When the loading deformation ratio exceeds 2.0%, the brace fails because of overall buckling.