In the present paper we analyze an innovative strategy for the retrofitting of a Reinforced Concrete (RC) building by the use of hysteretic dissipators. A device called Buckling Restrained Axial Damper (BRAD) is adopted which is used in series with a steel element to form the diagonal braces of the retrofitted structure. Such devices allow a significant improvement of the seismic behavior of the building by providing a better dissipation of the seismic input energy in the structure and thus ensuring a better performance of the RC structure in the elastoplastic range. In the paper the behavior of such devices is described and analyzed in detail. The advantages and disadvantages of their use in the retrofitting of RC structures is discussed. A nonlinear analysis is finally presented for the retrofitting of a RC existing building by a displacement based approach in order to verify the compatibility condition between the displacement capacity of the structure and the displacement demand according to the seismic codes. The performances of the use of the BRAD devices in the retrofitting of RC buildings is thus illustrated in detail.
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