Episode 106 - Mast Frame: Rethinking Seismic Systems
From The Structural Engineering Podcast by Zach and Max
May 17, 2026 · 49 min · Season 7
About this episode
This episode explores mast frames as a hybrid seismic system, discussing their advantages over traditional designs and their future in seismic engineering.
In this episode, we take a deep dive into mast frames a hybrid seismic system that challenges the traditional boundaries between elastic and energy‑dissipating components. Using the Samuel Merritt University project as a case study, we unpack why the design team stepped away from conventional BRB‑only frames and moment‑frame/dual systems, and instead embraced a BRBM (Buckling‑Restrained Brace + Mast) approach.We explore how mast frames redistribute stiffness, improve drift control, and preserve architectural openness in ways that standard systems struggle to match. From nonlinear response history analysis to capacity design of mast members, we walk through the technical decisions that shaped the system. We also get into the practical realities detailing strategies that allow the mast to rock, base connections that handle massive overturning forces, and the construction challenges of erecting a tall, stiff truss inside a transparent building.Finally, we zoom out to discuss where mast frames fit in the future of seismic design. Will hybrid systems like BRBM become more common in dense urban environments? How might codes evolve to better capture their behavior? And what lessons…
People in this episode
Hosts: Zach, Max
Topics covered
- seismic design
- mast frames
- structural engineering
- BRB systems
- capacity design
- urban environments
Keywords
- mast frames
- BRBM
- seismic systems
- drift control
- nonlinear response history analysis
- construction challenges
- energy-dissipating components
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Samuel Merritt University
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