Proposal and application of structural soundness monitoring system for the buckling‐restrained brace using steel mortar planks

A structural soundness monitoring system for building steel structures is effective for a quick inspection just after large earthquakes. A damage‐controlled structure can be monitored effectively because damage is strictly concentrated in energy‐absorbed members, and that, in this case, the physical quantity suitable for monitoring is displacements of those energy absorbed members. Buckling‐restrained braces (also, the BRB using steel mortar planks, BRBSM), one of the energy‐absorption members, can be directly monitored by the monitoring sensor; it will be possible to quickly evaluate the extent of damage and make a prompt decision on the replacement. Focusing on functionality of a structural soundness monitoring system, a damage evaluation method of the BRB using steel mortar planks and its corresponding monitoring system are verified conducting by a cyclic loading test. It is demonstrated that the cumulative plastic strain energy can be estimated approximately using this system, and this system is adapted to a mid‐rise steel building.