Strengthening of moment-resisting frame using cable–cylinder bracing

Abstract

Cable–cylinder bracing (cable bracing system with central cylinder) is one of the modern bracing systems in which a pair of cables passes through a cylinder at their point of intersection. This research focuses on the seismic behaviour of moment-resisting frames which have been strengthened using cable–cylinder bracing. For this purpose, steel moment-resisting frames, with different numbers of storeys, were strengthened with two different types of cable bracing: cable cross-bracing and cable–cylinder bracing, and their seismic performances were compared. After performing verification, the original moment-resisting frames and those strengthened with cable–cylinder bracings and cable cross-bracings were subjected to the scaled records of six well-known earthquakes. The hysteresis, drift distribution and column axial force variation curves were plotted for the storeys at the height of the strengthened frames and compared to those of moment-resisting frames. Moreover, the energy dissipation values were also derived from the mentioned records. Based on the obtained results, the moment-resisting frames strengthened with cable–cylinder bracings performed much better compared to those strengthened by cable cross-bracing.