Buckling Restrained Bracing

BACKGROUND

Two main components of the Airport Improvement Program are a third passenger terminal and a 2,000+ space parking structure.  Terminal C and Parking Structure C are expected to open in late 2011.

As part of the design process, state-of-the-art engineering technology, known as Buckling Restrained Bracing or “BRB,” was utilized to maximize both the safety and efficiency of the terminal and parking structure.  This approach includes construction of a special frame consisting of slender structural members, each made up of a steel core encased within a steel outer casing filled with concrete.

Developed in Japan in the 1980s, BRB technology uses the flexibility of steel more effectively than traditional bracing systems.  A main purpose of BRB is to laterally brace, or support, critical sections of a multi-level structure where “bending” of the structure may occur during an earthquake.  In the case of JWA’s Parking Structure C and Terminal C, the BRB system will not only ensure maximum seismic stability, but also safety and efficiency of the structures.  Use of the BRB system is also expected to be more cost effective and to reduce installation time when compared to other construction methods.

The use of the BRBs in JWA’s Parking Structure C marks the first time this system will be used in a concrete parking structure in the United States.  A full scale test of the braces being used on JWA’s structures was conducted at the University of Utah Structural Engineering Laboratory.  The test results confirmed the successful behavior of these braces during major seismic events.

The Airport Improvement Program includes construction of a new South Remain-Over-Night (RON) aircraft parking area, a new multi-level Terminal C with six new commercial passenger gates, new security checkpoints, new commuter facilities as well as new Parking Structure C and a Central Utility Plant.

Last updated: January 2011