The seismic retrofits of existing structures have been focused on the control of structural responses which can be achieved by providing displacement capacity through inelastic ductile action at supplemental devices. Due to their hysteretic characteristics, it is expected to sustain damage through repeated inelastic behaviors including residual deformation which might increase repair costs. To solve such drawbacks of existing yielding devices, this study proposes a self-centering disc spring brace that sustains large axial deformation without structural damage while providing stable energy dissipation capacity. The hysteretic behaviors of suggested brace are first investigated based on the quasi-static cyclic test procedure. Experimental results present the effective self-centering behavior and an analytical model is then suggested in order to reasonably capture the flag-shaped hysteretic behavior of the disc spring brace.

This study proposes an RCS composite damping device that can achieve seismic reinforcement of existing buildings by dissipating energy by inelastic deformation. A series of experiments assessing the performances of the rubber core pad, hysteretic steel slit damping device, and hybrid RCS damping device were conducted. The results showed that the ratios of the deviations to the mean values satisfied the domestic damping-device conformity condition for the load at maximum device displacement in each direction, at the maximum force and minimum force at zero displacement, as well as the hysteresis curve area. In addition, three analysis models based on load-displacement characteristics were proposed for application to seismic reinforcement design. In addition, the validity of the three proposed models was confirmed, as they simulated the experimental results well. Meanwhile, as the shear deformation of the rubber-core pad increased, the hysteretic behavior of super-elasticity greatly increased the horizontal force of the damping device. Therefore, limiting the allowable displacement during design is deemed to be necessary.

It is effective to apply hybrid damping device that combine separate damping device to cope with various seismic load. In this study, HRS hybrid damper(hybrid rubber slit damper) in which high damping rubber and steel slit plate are combined in parallel was proposed and structural performance tests were performed to review the suitability for seismic performance. Cyclic Loading tests were performed in accordance with criteria presented in KDS 41 17 00 and MOE 2019. As a result of the test, the criteria of KDS 41 17 00 and MOE2019 was satisfied, and the amount of energy dissipation increased due to the shear deformation of the high-damping rubber at low displacement. Result of performing the RC frame test, the allowable story drift ratio was satisfied, and the amount of energy dissipation increased in the reinforced specimen compared to the non-reinforced specimen.

This study is conducted to verify the seismic reinforcement effects of internally inserted buckling-restrained braces supported laterally by buckling-restrained rings for the seismic reinforcement of existing reinforced concrete buildings with non-seismic details. First, to evaluate the performance of KDS, the hysteretic characteristics of buckling-restrained braces are verified, and it is discovered that they satisfy the conformance criteria of the displacement-dependent damping device. Three full-scale, two-story reinforced concrete framework specimens are prepared to verify the seismic reinforcement effects, and the proposed buckling-restrained braces are bolstered with single diagonal and V-shaped braces to be compared with non-reinforced specimens. By performing a comparison with non-reinforced specimens that present intensive shear cracks at the bottom of first-floor columns, it is revealed that the maximum load and energy dissipation of specimens reinforced with the proposed buckling restrained braces, in which the structural damage extends evenly throughout the system, are approximately 4 and 6.2 times higher, respectively, which proves the effectiveness of the proposed seismic reinforcement method.