This paper presents a summary of current practice and recent developments in the application of passive energy dissipation systems for seismic protection of structures. The emphasis is on the application of passive energy dissipation systems within the framing of building structures. Major topics that are presented include basic principles of energy dissipation systems, descriptions of the mechanical behavior and mathematical modeling of selected passive energy dissipation devices, advantages and disadvantages of these devices, development of guidelines and design philosophy for analysis and design of structures employing energy dissipation devices, and design considerations that are unique to structures with energy dissipation devices. A selection of recent applications of passive energy dissipation systems is also presented.

Equivalent lateral force and modal analysis procedures for yielding buildings with damping systems were developed, validated, and incorporated in the 2000 NEHRP Provisions. The technical basis for each procedure is described in the paper together with the simplifications adopted for inclusion in the Provisions. Procedures for calculating the effective damping and effective period and higher mode damping ratios for buildings equipped with yielding, viscoelastic, linear viscous, and nonlinear viscous damping devices are presented.

Equivalent lateral force and modal analysis procedures for yielding buildings with damping systems were developed, validated, and incorporated in the 2000 NEHRP Provisions. Key to the implementation of the procedures was the validation process that demonstrated the accuracy of the proposed procedures. The procedures for implementing yielding, viscoelastic, linear viscous, and nonlinear viscous dampers were tested using the results of nonlinear response-history analysis on sample three- and six-story frames and were found to be robust.