IIT Delhi develops buckling braces to improve earthquake resistance of buildings

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi have developed low-cost, super-elastic, buckling-restrained braces for improving earthquake resistance of buildings.

The researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi have fashioned low-cost, super-elastic, buckling-restrained braces for improving earthquake resistance in constructed structures. The braces have several advantages including on-site fabrication and assembling process, all-steel components, post-earthquake inspection and easy replacement. 

As per officials, the researchers have applied for a patent on their design, as reported by Edexlive.

Buckling-Restrained Brace - a structural brace in building

"The earthquake resistance of civil structures is often improved by using seismic force-resisting systems or vibration control devices. Buckling-restrained braces are the special structural elements that serve both purposes. A Buckling-Restrained Brace (BRB) is a structural brace in a building, designed to allow the building to withstand cyclical lateral loadings, typically earthquake-induced loading," said the officials.

Professor at IIT Delhi's Civil Engineering Department, said, "The proposed technology is effective in the new constructions and has a great potential for the upgradation and retrofitting of seismically deficient Reinforced Concrete (RC) and steel framed structures, such as residential and office buildings, hospitals and school buildings. We have filed a patent for this technology. These braces can also be conveniently adopted in the steel and concrete bridges to enhance their earthquake resistance."

"The implementation of this technique in the existing structures reduces overall retrofitting cost and minimises the intervention and downtime. It is possible to design a structure to achieve the required performance objectives in terms of strength and serviceability utilising the hybrid buckling-restrained braces," he added.

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