Development of a novel self-centering slip friction brace for enhancing the cyclic behaviors of RC double-column bridge bents

Bridges may suffer large residual displacements after a severe earthquake, which significantly impedes the post-quake rescue activities. It is imperative to minimize the residual deformations of bridge structures. In the present study, a self-centering slip friction (SCSF) brace is developed to dissipate seismic energy and reduce the residual displacement of RC double-column bridge bents. The design and working mechanism of the brace are firstly introduced, and parametric studies are performed to examine the influences of the key parameters of the brace. Experimental studies on the components of the brace and the whole brace were carried out to examine its behaviors and to validate the analytical results derived according to the working mechanism. This brace is then applied to a RC double-column bridge bent to enhance its cyclic behaviors, and its effectiveness is examined through numerical simulations. In particular, the influences of the location and type of the connection between the brace and bridge bent are investigated. Experimental and numerical results show that the brace has prominent energy dissipation and self-centering capabilities, and it can significantly enhance the cyclic behaviors of RC a double-column bridge bent.