Experimental study of friction dissipators for seismic protection of building structures

Abstract

This paper presents unidirectional shaking table tests of two reduced scale steel models of building frames; they have one and two floors, respectively. Such frames incorporate friction dissipators at every floor. The inputs are sine-dwells and artificial and registered earthquakes. This work belongs to a larger research project aiming to assess the seismic efficiency of friction dissipators by means of an integrated numerical and experimental approach. Inside this framework, the main objectives of these experiments are: (i) to collect a wide range of results useful to calibrate a numerical model derived inside the project, (ii) to contribute to clarify some of the most controversial issues about friction dissipators (behavior for inputs containing pulses, capacity to cut resonance peaks, introduction of high frequencies in the response, self-generated eccentricities), (iii) to better understand their dynamic behavior, (iv) to give an insight on the feasibility and reliability of using simple friction dissipators for seismic protection of building structures and (v) to characterize the hysteretic behavior of these devices. Most of these objectives are satisfactorily reached and relevant conclusions are stated.

Dynamic loading tests and seismic response analysis of a stud‐type damper composed of multiple friction units with disc springs

“…Additionally, they do not suffer from material yielding and repeated fatigue problems, which would necessitate their replacement after an earthquake, show no fluid leakage problems, are hardly affected by the ambient temperature, and have low susceptibility to deterioration over time. Various types of friction device have been proposed and developed, including translational motion devices, [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] rotational motion devices, [11][12][13] beam column joint devices, [14][15][16] and other devices. 9,17,18 The seismic response behavior of friction-damped (FD) systems has been experimentally investigated, [19][20][21] design methods and analytical studies have been reported, [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] and the installation of devices into actual building structures has been performed.…”

A lattice‐shaped friction device and its performance in weak‐story prevention

“…For most macroscopic modeling of friction dampers, the concept of Coulomb friction provides the theoretical basis, and the elastic‐perfectly plastic model is suitable for describing their force‐displacement relations as determined through physical testing results . Most of the frictional dampers are made of a set of metallic plates with a certain friction coefficient; the friction‐based devices yield at predetermined loads and provide dissipation of energy through friction during severe seismic excitations . The frictional damper exhibits stable hysteretic behavior under cyclic loads and a well‐defined sliding force by regulating normal forces acting perpendicularly to the friction surface …”

“…plates with a certain friction coefficient; the friction-based devices yield at predetermined loads and provide dissipation of energy through friction during severe seismic excitations. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] The frictional damper exhibits stable hysteretic behavior under cyclic loads and a well-defined sliding force by regulating normal forces acting perpendicularly to the friction surface. [12,16,17] The force-deformation relation developed in a hysteretic damper is controlled by the initial stiffness and design slip-load or yield load.…”

Experimental Campaign of a Low-Cost and Replaceable System for Passive Energy Dissipation in Precast Concrete Structures

“…However, most of them are very expensive solutions, only suitable for special structural elements (tall buildings or very singular buildings). Therefore, they are not economically viable if massive use is intended in areas with low economic resources [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].Therefore, it is necessary to develop low-cost energy dissipation systems that are capable of being implemented in inexpensive precast concrete buildings without involving an unacceptable increase in the total cost of the building [9][10][11].Another common problem regarding the structural behavior of a building that had been subjected to an earthquake was that it was useless after the seismic event and, therefore, it had to be demolished. Regarding the situation of collapse during an earthquake, although it is a breakthrough, the economic cost for the community is still very high.…”

“…However, most of them are very expensive solutions, only suitable for special structural elements (tall buildings or very singular buildings). Therefore, they are not economically viable if massive use is intended in areas with low economic resources [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”