• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.223-234
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• 2023

The use of displacement-dependent rotational friction dampers (RFD) as fuses or interchangeable elements in the moment-resisting frames (MRF) is one of the newest methods for improving seismic performance. In the present study, the performance of rotational friction dampers in MRF has been investigated. Evaluation of MRF with and without RFD models was performed using the finite element method by ABAQUS. For validation, an MRF and MRF with rotational friction dampers were modeled that had been experimentally tested and reported in previous experimental research and a good agreement was observed. The behavior of these dampers in frames of 3-, 6-, and 9-story was studied by modeling the damper directly. Nonlinear time history dynamic analysis was used. It was observed that by increasing the number of stories in the buildings, rotational friction dampers should be used to perform properly against earthquakes. The installation of rotational friction dampers in steel moment-resisting frames shows that the drift ratio between the floors is reduced and the seismic performance of these frames is improved.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.493-515
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• 2008

Semi-active control systems have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years because these systems can operate on battery power alone, proving advantageous during seismic events when the main power source of the structure may likely fail. The behavior of semi-active devices is often highly non-linear and requires suitable and efficient control algorithm. This paper presents the comparative study and performance of variable semi-active friction dampers by using recently proposed predictive control law with direct output feedback. In this control law, the variable slip force of semi-active variable friction damper is kept slightly lower than the critical friction force, which allows the damper to remain in the slip state during an earthquake, resulting in improved energy dissipation capability. This control algorithm is able to produce a continuous and smooth slip forces for a variable friction damper. The numerical examples include a structure controlled with multiple variable semi-active friction dampers and with multiple passive friction dampers. A parameter, gain multiplier defined as the ratio of damper force to critical damper control force, is investigated under four different real earthquake ground motions, which plays an important role in the present control algorithm of the damper. The numerically evaluated optimum parametric value is considered for the analysis of the structure with dampers. The numerical results of the variable friction dampers show better performance over the passive dampers in reducing the seismic response of structures.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.515-527
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• 2017

Recently, Friction dampers become popular due to the desirable performance in the energy dissipation of lateral loads. A lot of research which has been conducted on these dampers results in developing friction dampers with low sensitivity to the number of cycles and temperature increases. Friction dampers impose high residual drifts to the buildings because of low post-yield stiffness of the damper which results from increasing lateral displacement and period of buildings. This issue can be more critical under strong aftershocks which results in increasing of structural damages. In this paper, in addition to the assessment of aftershock on steel buildings equipped with friction dampers, methods for controlling residual drifts and decreasing the costs of retrofitting are investigated. Utilizing rigid connections as a lateral dual system and activating lateral stiffness of gravity columns by adding elastic braces are as an example of effective methods investigated in this research. The results of nonlinear time history analyses on the low to medium rise steel frames equipped with friction dampers illustrate a rise in residual drifts as the result of aftershocks. In addition, the results show that different slip loads of friction damper can affect the residual drifts. Furthermore, elastic stories in comparison to rigid connections can reduce residual drifts of buildings in an effective fashion, when most slip loads of friction dampers are considered.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.21-38
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• 2002

A control algorithm combining viscous and non-linear Reid damping mechanisms has been recently proposed by the authors to command active friction dampers. In this paper, friction dampers and the proposed algorithm are applied to control the seismic responses of a nonlinear 20-story building. Piezoelectric stack actuators are used to implement the control algorithm. The capacity of each damper is determined by the practical size of piezoelectric actuators and the availability of power supply. The saturation effect of the actuators on the building responses is investigated. To minimize the peak story drift ratio or floor acceleration of the building structure, a practical sequential procedure is developed to sub-optimally place the dampers on various floors. The effectiveness of active friction dampers and the efficiency of the proposed sequential procedure are verified by subjecting the building structure to four earthquakes of various intensities. The performance of 80 dampers and 137 dampers installed on the structure is evaluated according to 5 criteria. Numerical simulations indicated that the proposed control algorithm effectively reduces the seismic responses of the uncontrolled 20-story building, such as inelastic deformation. The sub-optimal placement of dampers based on peak acceleration outperforms that based on peak drift ratio for structures subjected to near-fault ground motions. Saturation of piezoelectric actuators has adverse effect on floor acceleration.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.309-325
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• 2015

A convenient procedure for seismic retrofit of existing buildings is to use passive control methods, like using friction dampers in steel frames with bracing systems. In this method, reduction of seismic demand and increase of ductility generally improve seismic performance of the structures. Some of its advantages are development of a stable rectangular hysteresis loop and independence on environmental conditions such as temperature and loading rate. In addition to friction dampers, masonry-infill panels improve the seismic resistance of steel structures by increasing lateral strength and stiffness and reducing story drifts. In this study, the effect of masonry-infill panels on seismic performance of a three-span four-story steel frame with Pall friction dampers is investigated. The results show that friction dampers in the steel frame increase the ductility and decrease the drift (to less than 1%). The infill panels fulfill their function during the imposed drift and increase structural strength. It can be concluded that infill panels together with friction dampers, reduced structural dynamic response. These infill panels dissipated input earthquake energy from 4% to 10%, depending on their thickness.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.1291-1311
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• 2015

This study investigates the seismic energy dissipation capacity of a hybrid passive damper composed of a friction and a hysteretic slit damper. The capacity of the hybrid device required to satisfy a given target performance of a reinforced concrete moment resisting frame designed with reduced design base shear is determined based on the ASCE/SEI 7-10 process, and the seismic performances of the structures designed without and with the hybrid dampers are verified by nonlinear dynamic analyses. Fragility analysis is carried out to investigate the probability of a specified limit state to be reached. The analysis results show that in the structure with hybrid dampers the residual displacements are generally reduced and the dissipated inelastic energy is mostly concentrated on the dampers. At the Moderate to Extensive damage states the fragility turned out to be smallest in the structure with the hybrid dampers.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 2019

In this paper passive seismic retrofit devices for building structures developed by the author in recent years are introduced. The proposed damping devices were developed by slightly modifying the configuration of conventional devices and enhancing their effectiveness. First a seismic retrofit system consisting of a pin-jointed steel frame and rotational friction dampers installed at each corner of the steel frame was developed. Then two types of steel slit dampers were developed; box-type slit damper and multi-slit damper. In addition, hybrid dampers were developed by combining a slit damper and a friction damper connected in parallel. Finally a self-centering system was developed by using preloaded tendons and viscous dampers connected in series. For each retrofit system developed, an appropriate analytical model was developed, and the seismic performance was verified by loading test and earthquake analysis of case study structures. The experimental and analysis results show that the proposed systems can be used efficiently to enhance the seismic performance of building structures.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.311-332
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• 2012

Earthquake response of mid-rise to high-rise buildings provided with friction dampers is investigated. The steel buildings are modelled as shear-type structures and the investigation involved modelling of the structures of varying heights ranging from five storeys to twenty storeys, in steps of five storeys, subjected to real earthquake ground motions. Three basic types of structures considered in the study are: moment resisting frame (MRF), braced frame (BF), and friction damper frame (FDF). Mathematical modelling of the friction dampers involved simulation of the two distinct phases namely, the stick phase and the slip phase. Dynamic time history analyses are carried out to study the variation of the top floor acceleration, top floor displacement, storey shear, and base-shear. Further, energy plots are obtained to investigate the energy dissipation by the friction dampers. It is seen that substantial earthquake response reduction is achieved with the provision of the friction dampers in the mid-rise and high-rise buildings. The provision of the friction dampers always reduces the base-shear. It is also seen from the fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the top floor acceleration that there is substantial reduction in the peak response; however, the higher frequency content in the response has increased. For the structures considered, the top floor displacements are lesser in the FDF than in the MRF; however, the top floor displacements are marginally larger in the FDF than in the BF.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.633-646
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• 2018

This study investigated the seismic performance of a hybrid damper composed of a steel slit plate and friction pads, and an optimum retrofit scheme was developed based on life cycle cost. A sample hybrid damper was tested under cyclic loading to confirm its validity as a damping device and to construct its nonlinear analysis model. The effectiveness of the optimum damper distribution schemes was investigated by comparing the seismic fragility and the life cycle costs of the model structure before and after the retrofit. The test results showed that the damper behaved stably throughout the loading history. Numerical analysis results showed that the slit-friction hybrid dampers optimally distributed based on life cycle cost proved to be effective in minimizing the failure probability and the repair cost after earthquakes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.435-444
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• 2022

This study proposes a novel longitudinal self-centering earthquake resistant system for reinforced concrete (RC) continuous bridges by using superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) reinforcement and friction dissipation mechanism. The SMA reinforcing bars are implemented in the fixed piers to provide self-recentering forces, while the friction dampers are used at the movable substructures like end abutments to enhance the energy dissipation of the bridge system. A reasonable balance between self-centering and energy dissipation capacities should be well achieved by properly selecting the parameters of the SMA rebars and friction dampers. A two-span continuous bridge with one fixed pier and two abutments is chosen as a prototype for illustration. Different longitudinal earthquake resistant systems including the proposed one in this study are investigated and compared. The results indicate that compared with the designs of over-dissipation (e.g., excessive friction) and over-self-centering (e.g., pure SMAs), the proposed system with balanced design between self-centering and energy dissipation would perform satisfactorily in controlling both the peak and residual displacement ratios of the bridge system.