AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON PERFORMANCES OF STRENGTHENED RC FRAMES WITH RC DAMPERS AND BRACES

Based on test of two prototype RC frames with dampers and braces under low cyclic loading,reloading experimental study is proceeded after strengthening.The reloaded strengthened frames are respectively reset to their initial positions,and test under the same load history was made to study the residual bearing capacity.Damaging process and forms of the members,as well as hysteresis behavior of the frames,are obtained in both the cases.The results show that after strengthening the horizontal bearing capacity of the frames is lower but the ductility of the whole frame is raised compared to that of the prototypes;The dampers improve the ductility of the frame to a certain extent and the lock-up braces enhance the post loading capacity of the frame,and this carries out the thinking of multi-lines resisting earthquake.Results of this paper may supply references to structure designers.The residential bearing capacity of the reset frames is decreased to a certain extent,but it still maintains some seismic performance.