ABSTRACT
Buckling-restrained braces have recently been introduced into US engineering design practice. To facilitate the use of the system, the Structural Engineers Association of California has collaborated with the American Institute of Steel Construction in the development of a set of building code provisions. The provisions are intended to achieve a reasonable balance between criteria relative to the requirements and expected performance of other systems and more objective performance goals. The paper provides some background on the evolution of buckling-restrained braces and the context for seismic code development in the United States, describes the process followed in the development of the provisions, and gives an overview of the main requirements of the provisions.
