This technology is a telescopic brace featuring a core with a T, I, H, or + cross-section inserted into a polygonal hollow tube, with the space between them filled with a phase-change material (PCM) to form a unified PCM layer. End plates at both ends of the core connect to the steel structure, while a rod at the end inserts into the core's hollow space, allowing for longitudinal expansion and contraction.
Conventional buckling-restrained braces used for seismic loads are typically filled with mortar, which increases weight, requires long production times for curing, and suffers from reduced durability against lateral forces in cold temperatures due to freeze-thaw damage. Other alternatives, such as composite panels filled with phase-change materials, have struggled to sufficiently improve the brace's compressive load and lateral force resistance.
This technology incorporates elastic elements like springs, rubber blocks, or dampers, or a hydraulic cylinder within the hollow space to allow telescopic movement of the rod only when buckling stress exceeds a set threshold. In the hydraulic version, a buckling sensor in the center of the hollow space triggers a flow control valve when pressed by a deformed core, allowing the end plate to move, while a core support with springs and cushioning members braces the inner wall. It can be used for seismic bracing in steel buildings, retrofitting existing structures, and industrial frames in cold regions, offering a lightweight design that eliminates mortar curing and freeze-thaw concerns while allowing for length adjustments to accommodate on-site dimensional errors.
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