Experimental Investigation of Inelastic Cyclic Buckling and Fracture of Steel Braces

Results from 18 large-scale tests of steel bracing members are presented to examine their inelastic buckling and fracture behavior as related to the seismic design of concentrically braced frames. The brace specimens include square hollow structural shapes (HSS), pipe, and wide-flange sections. The effect of various parameters, including width–thickness and slenderness ratios, cross-section shape, loading history, loading rate, and grout fill on...