Abstract：To some certain extent, the out-of-plane story drift may affect the seismic performance of the buckling restrained brace (BRB) in the frame. In order to study the influences of out-of-plane story drift on the out-of-plane mechanical performance of reinforced concrete (RC) frame with buckling-restrained brace, quasi-static tests were conducted on three RC frame specimens equipped with steel-plate assembled buckling-restrained brace in out-of-plane direction. The effects of gusset plate stiffeners and BRB end reinforcements are discussed. The out-of-plane mechanical performance of RC frames with steel-plate assembled buckling-restrained brace, and the force and deformation characteristics of BRB are studied. The results show that the steel-plate assembled BRB has little effect on the seismic performance of RC frames in the out-of-plane direction. The out-of-plane deformation of frame may cause very small axial deformation for BRB. The gusset plate stiffener and BRB end reinforcement can reduce the influence of axial force of the BRB on its out-of-plane deformation.
