Abstract:The self-centering buckling-restrained brace (SBRB) was formed by making a self-centering system consisting of stacked disc springs (DS) and a buckling-restrained brace (BRB) work in parallel to control the residual deformation of BRB. Quasi-static tests were done to examine the effects of stiffness of stacked springs, end connections, self-centering ratios, etc. on the hysteretic behavior of SBRBs. The tests revealed that, compared with BRBs, the residual deformations of SBRBs were reduced greatly. SBRBs exhibited flag-shaped hysteretic curves, and in the later stage of tests, the steel plate brace underwent tensile failure while other components remained intact. The bearing capacity and energy dissipation capacity of SBRBs are mainly from the DS parts and BRB parts, respectively. Approximately 23%-36% energy dissipation in SBRBs is from the DS parts due to the friction between stacked springs. When the other constructional details remained the same, the DS parts with a higher stiffness of springs had a greater increase in bearing capacity after starting, and the DS parts with a higher starting force also had a higher self-centering ratio and smaller residual deformations. On the whole, the end connections had little effect on the residual deformations. The tension fracture of steel plate brace occurred earlier in the SBRB with rigid end connections due to bearing additional bending moments, while the SBRBs with pin end connections exhibited better energy dissipation. With the increase of self-centering ratios, the residual deformations of SBRBs reduced gradually and the appropriate ratios of SBRBs should be kept within 0.7-0.9 to efficiently control residual deformations and to avoid excessive demand of DS parts.