ABSTRACT
Following the behavior of building structures during recent earthquakes, it has been recognized that increased strength and stable energy dissipation capability are the most desirable mechanical characteristics needed to maintain interstory drift and overall displacements within tolerable levels. These requirements motivated the development of specially designed braces that can yield, yet not buckle. This paper presents test results from a comprehensive experimental program on such braces together with a mathematical model that approximates their hysteretic behavior.
