The traditional brace elements will buckle when subjected to severe earthquakes. Many researchers have been trying to overcome this disadvantage of the traditional brace element since 1970’s. Many types of braces have been developed without buckling under large compressive forces called the buckling restrained brace BRB, or unbonded brace. This type brace includes a steel core, a case that encases the steel core and brace projection, and can enhance both the stiffness and hysteretic damping of a structure to resist seismic loadings. Recently, some investigators have carried out the researches focusing on the procedure of designing buckling restrained braces, quasi dynamic testing and the methods of the connection between the buckling restrained brace and main structure. But, these results can not reflect the effects of the structure with buckling restrained braces during earthquakes. Therefore, the shaking table testing should be done to examine the effects of new BRBs on the seismic responses of a structure. In this study, the reinforced buckling restrained braces were installed on a three-story scaled steel structure in Feng Chia University to perform a series of shaking table tests. The test results illustrate that the new unbond braces provide good protection for structures during earthquakes.

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