State-of-the-art on self-centering energy dissipative braces

Self-centering energy dissipative braces have good abilities of re-centering and energy dissipation, which can decrease the damage of the main structures by controlling the structural seismic response, eliminating the residual drifts after earthquakes and providing additional energy dissipative capacity for structures. Due to their superior seismic performance and convenient construction and installation, self-centering energy dissipative braces have become one of the research hotspots of earthquake resilient structures. On the basis of reviewing the research of self-centering damper devices, the concept and principle mechanism of the initial self-centering energy dissipative braces were described and the related experimental studies were summarized. The current research, which is focused on how to improve the performance of the initial self-centering energy dissipative braces, was summarized from three aspects: improving the axial elongation capacity, innovating energy dissipative devices and reducing the level of prestressing force. In addition, the existing problems of self-centering energy dissipative braces were proposed, such as insufficiency research on dynamic reliability and uncertainty, imperfect hysteretic performance and the limitation of re-centering materials. Finally, the future research trends of self-centering energy dissipative braces were pointed out. © 2021, Editorial Office of Journal of Building Structures. All right reserved.