The role of viscoelastic damping on retrofitting seismic performance of asymmetric reinforced concrete structures

The primary purpose of this research is to improve the seismic response of a complex asymmetric tall structure using viscoelastic(VE) dampers. Asymmetric structures have detrimental effects on the seismic performance because such structures create abrupt changes in the stiffness or strength that may lead to undesirable stress concentrations at weak locations. Structural control devices are one of the effective ways to reduce seismic impacts, particularly in asymmetric structures. For passive vibration control of structures, VE dampers are considered among the most preferred devices for energy dissipation. Therefore, in this research, VE dampers are implemented at strategic locations in a realistic case study structure to increase the level of distributed damping without occupying significant architectural space and reducing earthquake vibrations in terms of story displacements(drifts) and other design forces. It has been concluded that the seismic response of the considered structure retrofitted with supplemental VE dampers corresponded well in controlling the displacement demands. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that seismic response in terms of interstory drifts was effectively mitigated with supplemental damping when added up to a certain level. Exceeding the supplemental damping from this level did not contribute to additional mitigation of the seismic response of the considered structure. In addition, it was found that the supplemental damping increased the total acceleration of the considered structure at all floor levels, which indicates that for irregular tall structures of this type, VE dampers were only a good retrofitting measure for earthquake induced interstory deformations and their use may not be suitable for acceleration sensitive structures. Overall, the research findings demonstrate how seismic hazards to these types of structures can be reduced by introducing additional damping into the structure.     

Simplified design procedure for frame buildings with viscoelastic or elastomeric structural dampers

A simplified design procedure (SDP) for preliminary seismic design of frame buildings with structural dampers is presented. The SDP uses elastic‐static analysis and is applicable to structural dampers made from viscoelastic (VE) or high‐damping elastomeric materials. The behaviour of typical VE materials and high‐damping elastomeric materials is often non‐linear, and the SDP idealizes these materials as linear VE materials. With this idealization, structures with VE or high‐damping elastomeric dampers can be designed and analysed using methods based on linear VE theory. As an example, a retrofit design for a typical non‐ductile reinforced concrete (RC) frame building using high‐damping elastomeric dampers is developed using the SDP. To validate the SDP, results from non‐linear dynamic time history analyses (NDTHA) are presented. Results from NDTHA demonstrate that the SDP estimates the seismic response with sufficient accuracy for design. It is shown that a non‐ductile RC frame building can be retrofit with high‐damping elastomeric dampers to remain essentially elastic under the design basis earthquake (DBE). Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hybrid structural control using viscoelastic dampers and active control systems

Viscoelastic (VE) dampers and active control (AC) systems are studied together as a hybrid system for their effectiveness in reducing the response of seismic structures. VE dampers have properties which are both frequency and temperature-dependent. On the other hand, AC systems for seismic structures require rather large control forces in order to be effective. The possibility of combining VE dampers and AC systems to improve the performance of both systems is examined. It is found that for the same response reduction, the addition of VE dampers to an AC system reduces the required control forces considerably, which reduces the cost of the AC system. The addition of the AC system helps improve the velocity performance of VE dampers and considerably reduces the possibility of shear failure of the viscoelastic material. Two procedures for evaluating the damping effect of the VE dampers are suggested which can be applied to either shear-type or framed structures. Two control algorithms based on drift and velocity/acceleration feedback are compared to existing algorithms. A method of determining the weighting matrices of an AC system is presented which reduces the required control forces for certain control algorithms.     

Asymmetric one‐storey elastic systems with non‐linear viscous and viscoelastic dampers: Simplified analysis and supplemental damping system design

Investigated is the accuracy in estimating the response of asymmetric one‐storey systems with non‐linear viscoelastic (VE) dampers by analysing the corresponding linear viscous system wherein all non‐linear VE dampers are replaced by their energy‐equivalent linear viscous dampers. The response of the corresponding linear viscous system is determined by response history analysis (RHA) and by response spectrum analysis (RSA) extended for non‐classically damped systems. The flexible and stiff edge deformations and plan rotation of the corresponding linear viscous system determined by the extended RSA procedure is shown to be sufficiently accurate for design applications with errors generally between 10 and 20%. Although similar accuracy is also shown for the ‘pseudo‐velocity’ of non‐linear VE dampers, the peak force of the non‐linear VE damper cannot be estimated directly from the peak damper force of the corresponding linear viscous system. A simple correction for damper force is proposed and shown to be accurate (with errors not exceeding 15%). For practical applications, an iterative linear analysis procedure is developed for determining the amplitude‐ and frequency‐dependent supplemental damping properties of the corresponding linear viscous system and for estimating the response of asymmetric one‐storey systems with non‐linear VE dampers from the earthquake design (or response) spectrum. Finally, a procedure is developed for designing non‐linear supplemental damping systems that satisfy given design criteria for a given design spectrum. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Asymmetric one‐storey elastic systems with non‐linear viscous and viscoelastic dampers: Earthquake response

Investigated are earthquake responses of one‐way symmetric‐plan, one‐storey systems with non‐linear fluid viscous dampers (FVDs) attached in series to a linear brace (i.e. Chevron or inverted V‐shape braces).Thus, the non‐linear damper is viscous when the brace is considered rigid or viscoelastic (VE) when the brace is flexible. The energy dissipation capacity of a non‐linear FVD is characterized by an amplitude‐dependent damping ratio for an energy‐equivalent linear FVD, which is determined assuming the damper undergoes harmonic motion. Although this formulation is shown to be advantageous for single‐degree‐of‐freedom (SDF) systems, it is difficult to extend its application to multi‐degree‐of‐freedom (MDF) systems for two reasons: (1) the assumption that dampers undergo harmonic motion in parameterizing the non‐linear damper is not valid for its earthquake‐induced motion of an MDF system; and (2) ensuring simultaneous convergence of all unknown amplitudes of dampers is difficult in an iterative solution of the non‐linear system. To date, these limitations have precluded the parametric study of the dynamics of MDF systems with non‐linear viscous or VE dampers. However, they are overcome in this investigation using concepts of modal analysis because the system is weakly non‐linear due to supplemental damping. It is found that structural response is only weakly affected by damper non‐linearity and is increased by a small amount due to bracing flexibility. Thus, the effectiveness of supplemental damping in reducing structural responses and its dependence on the planwise distribution of non‐linear VE dampers were found to be similar to that of linear FVDs documented elsewhere. As expected, non‐linear viscous and VE dampers achieve essentially the same reduction in response but with much smaller damper force compared to linear dampers. Finally, the findings in this investigation indicate that the earthquake response of the asymmetric systems with non‐linear viscous or VE dampers can be estimated with sufficient accuracy for design applications by analysing the same asymmetric systems with all non‐linear dampers replaced by energy‐equivalent linear viscous dampers. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental beyond design and residual performances of full-scale viscoelastic dampers and their empirical modeling

Most past researches relevant to viscoelastic (VE) dampers, regardless of analytical and experimental ones, aimed at their design (or pre-damage) performance. In reality, however, under maximum considered or greater shaking caused by earthquakes, the shear deformation of the VE dampers installed in a structure may exceed or is even much larger than their nominal design range, thus leading to damage to the VE material. Under this circumstance, the structural design might become not conservative when the viscoelastically damped structure is a retrofit design or is not a supplemental damping design. Therefore, in this study, the beyond design and residual performances of the full-scale VE dampers after suffering damage are experimentally probed and compared with their design (or pre-damage) performance tested before. To have more engineering sense in practice, some suitable and conservative empirical post-damage models through considering reduction factors in the Kelvin-Voigt model for assessing the beyond design and residual performances of the full-scale VE dampers after suffering damage are recommended.     

台湾某钢框架大楼采用阻尼器补强结构减震效果评析

阻尼器是一种效果良好的减震装置,将阻尼器安装于结构中能够适时为结构体系提供阻尼力,从而减小地震作用对结构的破坏。黏滞阻尼器对振动的反应比较敏感,在结构受到较小振动时就可以发挥其减震效果,其阻尼力会随着振动周期和使用状态温度的不同而变化。当地震发生时,安装在结构中的阻尼器会消减地震作用,降低传导到主结构体系的地震能量,减小结构相对位移。本文介绍了黏滞阻尼器的工作原理和安装有黏滞阻尼器的结构体系的阻尼比的计算方法,对减震结构的减震效果的评析方法做出探讨,并以一安装有黏滞阻尼器的台湾某既有钢框架结构为例,分析了(1)该结构在遭受地震作用时的地震反应;(2)该结构体系在不同地震作用水平时的阻尼比,包括主体结构阻尼比和黏滞阻尼器阻尼比;(3)结构安装黏滞阻尼器后的减震效果。实例对本文的减震评析方法和减震效果进行了说明和分析,计算及分析结果表明利用黏滞阻尼器加固既有结构能够取得较好的减震效果,本文所提减震效果评析方法是一种实用有效的评析方法,对类似工程的减震评析具有一定的参考价值。     

The effect of coulomb damping on multidegree of freedom elastic structures

This paper is based on the premise that the damping mechanism of a multidegree of freedom structure can be represented by viscous and coulomb dampers. A closed form solution for the structure subjected to a sinusoidal forcing function is presented. The solution is used as the basis of a method for determining relative amounts of viscous and coulomb damping from vibration tests. The method was applied to the results of a series of vibration tests on a five storey reinforced concrete structure and approximate values of viscous and coulomb damping obtained. A comparison of the effect of various combined damping values on the earthquake response of the structure was made. It was concluded that the use of the equivalent viscous damping concept to approximate the combined effect of viscous and coulomb damping results in a low estimate of the elastic response of the structure.     

带粘弹性阻尼器结构振动台试验设计——基于OpenSees的阻尼器尺寸选择

基于带粘弹性阻尼器钢框架结构振动台试验,提出了基于OpenSees的阻尼器尺寸选择方法。首先,通过试验获得一种特定尺寸阻尼器的滞回曲线,根据粘弹性阻尼器相似理论,将其转换为一系列不同尺寸的阻尼器滞回曲线。使用Bouc-Wen模型对它们进行参数识别并添加到结构分析模型中,利用OpenSees软件对添加阻尼器结构和纯框架结构进行不同水准的3条地震波下动力时程分析。最后,通过综合考查阻尼器的减震效果和最大应变来确定合适的用于振动台试验当中的阻尼器尺寸。结果表明,本方法可避免对不同尺寸阻尼器逐个进行性能试验,Bouc-Wen模型可较准确地模拟阻尼器力学性能,OpenSees非线性动力时程分析可准确模拟试验过程,根据提出的选择指标能简单方便地确定阻尼器的尺寸。     

A two‐step direct method for estimating the seismic response of nonlinear structures equipped with nonlinear viscous dampers

The insertion of fluid viscous dampers in building structures is an innovative technology that can improve significantly the seismic response. These devices could be very useful also in the retrofit of existing buildings. The effect of this typology of damping system is usually identified with an equivalent supplemental damping ratio, which depends on the maximum displacement of the structure, so that iterative procedures are required. In this paper, a simplified direct assessment method for nonlinear structures equipped with nonlinear fluid viscous dampers is proposed. The method proposed in this study is composed by two steps. The first one yields the direct estimate of the supplemental damping ratio provided by nonlinear viscous dampers in presence of a linear elastic structural response. The second step extends the procedure to structures with nonlinear behavior. Both graphical and analytical approaches have been developed. The proposed method has then been verified through several applications and comparisons with nonlinear dynamic analyses. Moreover, an investigation has been performed with regard to the influence of the relations that define the damping reduction factor and the hysteretic damping. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A method of calculating the non‐linear seismic response of a building braced with viscoelastic dampers

Buildings are continually subject to dynamic loads, such as wind load, seismic ground motion, and even the load from internal utility machines. The recent trend of constructing more flexible high‐rise buildings underscores the importance of including viscoelastic dampers in building designs. Viscoelastic dampers are used to control the dynamic response of a building. If the seismic design is based only on the linear response spectrum, considerable error may occur when calculating the seismic response of a building; rubber viscoelastic dampers show non‐linear hysteretic damping that is quite different from viscous damping. This study generated a non‐linear response spectrum using a non‐linear oscillator model to simulate a building with viscoelastic dampers installed. The parameters used in the non‐linear damper model were obtained experimentally from dynamic loading tests. The results show that viscoelastic dampers effectively reduce the seismic displacement response of a structure, but transmit more seismic force to the structure, which essentially increases its seismic acceleration response. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于楼层剪力的等效阻尼比计算方法研究

针对现有附加有效阻尼比计算方法存在的问题,本文从能量的角度揭示了阻尼比对结构影响的机理。从结构设计的角度,提出一种在时程分析下基于楼层剪力的消能减震结构等效阻尼比计算方法。对布置黏滞阻尼器和软钢阻尼器的消能减震模型,采用本文提出的等效阻尼比计算方法,建立等效结构进行结构响应对比。结果表明,由该计算方法得到的等效阻尼比能够准确地评估阻尼器在结构中的耗能效果,建立的等效结构能够准确反映消能减震结构实际情况。基于楼层剪力的等效阻尼比计算方法通过等效结构楼层剪力大于或等于消能减震结构楼层剪力判断迭代完成,该方法计算过程不涉及阻尼器参数及结构形式,适用于所有阻尼器类型与结构类型。计算得到的等效结构进行设计能够确保结构设计的安全。     

基于多层框架结构的楼层阻尼比修正的仿真研究

附加有效阻尼比的确定是消能减震结构设计的关键。为探究布置消能器楼层数的不同对结构设计安全性的影响,以新疆地区某多层钢筋混凝土框架结构为研究对象,采用非线性时程分析方法和等效结构模型的振型分解反应谱分析方法,基于各楼层剪力计算结果,引入楼层阻尼比修正系数k_mn,对等效结构模型的附加有效阻尼比进行迭代修正。结果表明:采用小震时程分析阻尼比的等效结构模型,其楼层阻尼比修正系数随着阻尼器布置楼层数的逐渐增加呈现出先增后减的趋势,当阻尼器布置层数为楼层总数的3/5时折减率最低;采用中震时程分析阻尼比的等效结构模型,当阻尼器布置楼层数不少于2/5时,可满足设防要求;对于多层框架结构,考虑综合成本,黏滞阻尼器的布置楼层数可不采用满布的形式。     

特高压互连电气设备减震性能振动台试验

为研究铅金属减震器对特高压互连电气设备的减震效果,进行由硬管母线连接的特高压避雷器设备和电容式电压互感器设备组成的互连耦合体系的地震模拟振动台试验。通过白噪声扫频、抗震及减震试验,测定互连耦合体系抗震结构及减震结构的自振频率以及关键部位的应变、加速度响应。试验结果表明:抗震结构中避雷器设备的最大应变响应大于互感器设备,互连耦合体系中的避雷器设备属于易损设备;安装减震器后互连设备频率降低幅度较小,减震器基本不会影响电气设备的正常运行;安装减震器后互连耦合体系中的避雷器设备和互感器设备在较大峰值加速度地震波作用下,设备顶端加速度响应和最大应变响应均有较大幅度的降低,避雷器设备和互感器设备的最大应变响应的减震效率分别为75%和50%,减震效果显著,减震器的应用大幅提升了互连耦合体系的抗震能力。     

巨子型有控结构体系中黏滞阻尼器参数研究

巨子型有控结构体系(Mega-sub Controlled Structure System,即MSCSS)是一种新型的超高层建筑结构体系.本文针对MSCSS的构造特点,提出一种安装黏滞阻尼器的新的布置方案,通过研究该布置方案中取不同黏滞阻尼器参数时巨子型有控结构体系在罕遇地震作用下的动力响应,提出了与该结构体系动力特...     

Higher-mode effect on the seismic responses of buildings with viscoelastic dampers

In conventional modal analysis procedures, usually only a few dominant modes are required to describe the dynamic behavior of multi-degrees-of-freedom buildings. The number of modes needed in the dynamic analysis depends on the higher-mode contribution to the structural response, which is called the higher-mode effect. The modal analysis approach, however, may not be directly applied to the dynamic analysis of viscoelastically damped buildings. This is because the dynamic properties of the viscoelastic dampers depend on their vibration frequency. Therefore, the structural stiffness and damping contributed from those dampers would be different for each mode. In this study, the higher-mode effect is referred to as the response difference induced by the frequency-dependent property of viscoelastic dampers at higher modes. Modal analysis procedures for buildings with viscoelastic dampers distributed proportionally and non-proportionally to the stiffness of the buildings are developed to consider the higher-mode effect. Numerical studies on shear-type viscoelastically damped building models are conducted to examine the accuracy of the proposed procedures and to investigate the significance of the higher-mode effect on their seismic response. Two damper models are used to estimate the peak damper forces in the proposed procedures. Study results reveal that the higher-mode effect is significant for long-period viscoelastically damped buildings. The higher-mode effect on base shear is less significant than on story acceleration response. Maximum difference of the seismic response usually occurs at the top story. Also, the higher-mode effect may not be reduced by decreasing the damping ratio provided by the viscoelastic dampers. For practical application, it is realized that the linear viscous damping model without considering the higher-mode effect may predict larger damper forces and hence, is on the conservative side. Supported by: Science Council, Chinese Taipei, grant no. 88-2625-2-002-006     

Active viscous damping system for control of MDOF structures

The development and applications of a supplemental viscous damping device with active capacity are described. The system of the dampers defined as active viscous damping system (AVDS) is presented herein. Structural control principles defined here as active control theory (ACT) are used to obtain the control forces at each time step during an excitation. Control of the damping forces is possible due to a mechanical structure of the proposed AVDS and do not require the input of large power and energy. This system can be efficiently used to enhance the damping of a structure without adding in stiffness and strength. The added damping forces can be adjusted in a wide range. Its efficiency is demonstrated by a numerical simulation of a seven‐storey building subjected to earthquakes. The simulation shows that the behaviour of the damped structure with the AVDS is significantly improved compared to that of an uncontrolled system. Moreover, the response is better than that of adding either passive viscous dampers or electrorheological damping devices. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

双座串联大跨度斜拉桥粘滞阻尼器参数分析

以双座串联大跨度斜拉桥-珠海洪鹤大桥为背景,根据桥梁自振特性及场地效应,生成了三组人工波,采用纵向+2/3竖向的地震作用组合输入方式,通过非线性时程分析,系统的研究了粘滞阻尼器对双座串联大跨度斜拉桥减震性能的影响。同时为了确定粘滞阻尼器的最优参数,对粘滞阻尼器的阻尼系数C和速度指数α进行了参数敏感性分析。结果表明:设置纵向粘滞阻尼器能够显著减小双座串联斜拉桥的纵向位移响应,减小主梁在串联处发生碰撞的概率,同时改善主塔塔底结构受力情况,具有良好的耗能减震效果。综合考虑安全性、适用性和经济性等方面,最后给出针对洪鹤大桥的最优粘滞阻尼器参数:速度指数α为0.3,阻尼系数C为3 000kN/（m/s）^0.3。     

Fuzzy logic control of bridge structures using intelligent semi-active seismic isolation systems

Passive supplemental damping in a seismically isolated structure provides the necessary energy dissipation to limit the isolation system displacement. However, damper forces can become quite large as the passive damping level is increased, resulting in the requirement to transfer large forces at the damper connections to the structure which may be particularly difficult to accommodate in retrofit applications. One method to limit the level of damping force while simultaneously controlling the isolation system displacement is to utilize an intelligent hybrid isolation system containing semi-active dampers in which the damping coeffic ient can be modulated. The effectiveness of such a hybrid seismic isolation system for earthquake hazard mitigation is investigated in this paper. The system is examined through an analytical and computational study of the seismic response of a bridge structure containing a hybrid isolation system consisting of elastomeric bearings and semi-active dampers. Control algorithms for operation of the semi-active dampers are developed based on fuzzy logic control theory. Practical limits on the response of the isolation system are considered and utilized in the evaluation of the control algorithms. The results of the study show that both passive and semi-active hybrid seismic isolation systems consisting of combined base isolation bearings and supplemental energy dissipation devices can be beneficial in reducing the seismic response of structures. These hybrid systems may prevent or significantly reduce structural damage during a seismic event. Furthermore, it is shown that intelligent semi-active seismic isolation systems are capable of controlling the peak deck displacement of bridges, and thus reducing the required length of expansion joints, while simultaneously limiting peak damper forces. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimal damping between two adjacent elastic structures

The optimal values for the distribution of passive dampers interconnecting two adjacent structures of different heights are determined. The dampers are selected to minimize the seismic response in the first and second modes of the taller of the two structures. For simplicity, the structures are represented as uniform damped shear beams subjected to a common ground motion. Under certain conditions, apparent damping ratios as high as 12 and 15 per cent can be achieved in the first and second modes of lightly damped structures by the introduction of interconnection dampers. The largest reduction of the response in the first mode is achieved when the taller structure is about twice the height of the second structure. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.