High-mode effects on seismic performance of multi-story self-centering braced steel frames

•The comparisons between self-centering braced frames and BRBFs are systematically performed at various seismicity levels.•The contribution of high-mode effect in the seismic response of self-centering braced frames is identified.•The methods to mitigate the deficiencies associated with high-mode effect for self-centering braced frames are proposed.

Seismic-resisting, multi-story steel frames with self-centering braces (SCBs) are numerically investigated through pushover and incremental dynamic analyses. The seismic performance of self-centering braced frames (SC-BFs) is systematically compared with that of buckling-restrained braced frames (BRBFs), with emphasis on high-mode effect. The concentration of inter-story drift in the upper part of the buildings is more significant in SC-BFs than in BRBFs as a result of this effect. This high-mode effect strengthens with the increasing intensity of ground motions. Parametric studies indicate that increasing the post-yield stiffness ratio and/or energy dissipation capacity can successfully improve the seismic performance of SC-BFs, particularly in terms of limiting the high-mode effect. SC-BFs with enhanced post-yield stiffness and energy dissipation capacity exhibit relatively uniform inter-story drift ratios and reduced record-to-record variability in seismic performance.

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