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Abstract. In this paper the hysteretic behaviour of elastomeric dampers and their effect on steel moment resisting frames was evaluated. A new constitutive model was proposed, based on the Generalized Maxwell Model (GMM), which was able to capture the characteristics of the dampers under dynamic loading in a range of frequencies and amplitudes. This model was incorporated into the Finite Element (FE) Software OpenSees [1], and was used to validate the dampers behaviour. A simple steel moment resisting frame was modelled, and analytically tested under under strong ground motions, scaled according to Eurocode 8 [2] response spectrum. Both analytical and experimental results show the efficiency and the effectiveness of the elastomeric dampers with regard to structural response.