Dynamic Analysis of Variable Stiffness Bracing System in Structure

In this paper, the application of a variable stiffness bracing (VSB) system in structures subjected to earthquake excitation is presented. The considered variable stiffness system is includes of four curve leaf springs. The nonlinear geometry of leaf springs which are acting as bending component lead to nonlinear stiffness performance. The variable stiffness bracing system does not act much for small to intermediate vibration amplitudes but it’s operated to control unpredictably large story displacement. It means this retrofit’s technique avoid an increase force in structural component due to ordinary brace action. The single degree of freedom system (SDOF) is considered and dynamic analysis of aforementioned system, with Bare and normal braced frames are conducted and the results are compared. The efficiency of the proposed system is discussed and proved in light of numerical analysis.