Post-critical behaviour of ‘K’ braced frames

Abstract

Abstract During a high-intensity earthquake, the buildings in seismic areas could be acted upon by forces greater than those conventionally calculated, according to the code rules. Consequently, the structures with ‘K’ braced frames could behave in a post-critical range, as a result of the buckling of some compressed braces. The post-critical behaviour of the bar of the ‘K’ braced frame, as well as of the entire structure, is examined in the paper. The results established on an original calculation model are compared with experimental P-Δ diagrams obtained on plain scale models.