Numerical Simulation Analysis of Seismic Performance of Adjustable High-Strength Tie Rods

Abstract

To address the buckling susceptibility and inadequate energy dissipation capacity of conventional braces, this study proposes a novel Buckling-Restrained Brace (BRB) integrated with movable high-strength tie rods. Eight finite element models were developed using ABAQUS to systematically investigate the effects of core tube slenderness ratio, tie rod configuration, and core tube-to-tie rod area ratio on the mechanical performance, including load-bearing capacity and energy dissipation characteristics. The results demonstrate that under low-cycle reversed loading, the proposed brace exhibits stable and well-developed hysteresis loops, smooth skeleton curves, and superior ductility with significant plastic deformation capacity. Notably, the brace displays significantly enhanced stiffness and strength in tension compared to compression. This tension-compression asymmetry provides theoretical foundations for optimizing innovative composite bracing systems.