ANALITYCAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NON-LINEAR RESPONSE OF CRESCENT SHAPED BRACES HYSTERETIC DEVICES

The present work investigates the non-linear behavior of a steel hysteretic dissipative device known in the literature as Crescent Shaped Braces. The interaction between non-linear material behavior and non-linear geometrical effects due to the peculiar device shape results in a complex non-linear force-displacement response that can be controlled varying the key geometrical parameters. In this way the device can be efficiently utilized as a dissipative bracing capable of satisfying multiple seismic design objectives within a seismic design approach based on multiple building performances. In this work, simplified analytical relationships able to describe the key features of the device non-linear behavior are derived. Their effectiveness is then verified by mean of numerical simulations.