Buckling-enabled composite bracing for damage-avoidance rocking structures

•The non-linear mechanics of buckling-enabled composite bracings (BECB) with circular-arc shaped cross-section are explored.•A rigorous numerical simulation strategy for BECB elements is established and validated.•A parametric study on the buckling behaviour of BECB members made of GFRP is performed.•A case study of a steel rocking frame equipped with BECB is presented.•The inclusion of BECB is successful in stabilizing the non-linear dynamic response of damage-avoidance rocking frames. Post-tensioned rocking frames have been proposed as damage-free seismic-resistant structures. However, currently available load resisting systems for rocking frames rely on sacrificial yielding components that accumulate damage during strong dynamic action. To address this shortcoming, this study proposes a novel thoroughly damage-avoidance solution by means of bracing elements with carefully controlled buckling behaviour. To this end, a proof-of-concept study is presented, whereby the elastic buckling response of buckling-enabled composite bracing (BECB) elements with circular-arc shaped cross-section is numerically investigated. Varying geometric properties are considered and validated against analytical approximations. Besides, a finite element study of a single-storey steel post-tensioned frame under static and dynamic actions is performed. The case study incorporates BECB elements made from glass-fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP). It is demonstrated that BECB enhances the non-linear static and dynamic response of rocking frames by providing stability and significantly reducing storey drifts and accelerations without accumulating damage.