Experimental and numerical studies of a core plate repairable double-stage yield buckling-restrained brace

This paper introduces a core plate replaceable double-stage yield buckling-restrained brace (RDYB). All components of the RDYB are assembled through bolt connections, allowing for the replacement of the core plate without the need to remove the buckling-restraining cover plate, which can significantly simplify the repairing process. Firstly, the configuration and working principle of the RDYB are presented. Secondly, a core plate repairable single-stage yield buckling-restrained brace (RSYB) was designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the repairing method, and an RDYB was designed to further illustrate the double-stage yield performance of the proposed RDYB. Thirdly, cyclic loading was conducted to investigate the hysteretic performance, failure modes, and cumulative plastic deformation capabilities of the specimens. The test results show that the repairable buckling-restrained brace (RBRB) specimens exhibit stable hysteretic performance and good cumulative plastic deformation capabilities. Moreover, the hysteretic performance of the RBRB specimens remains consistent before and after the replacement of core plates. The outcomes of this study are expected to provide useful references for the development of more repairable and resilient braced structures.