• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.76 no.6
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• pp.823-837
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• 2020

In this research, the idea of improving the seismic response of an existing steel structure with use of friction dampers between external walls and the structure is discussed. The main difference of this method with other methods of seismic rehabilitation is that interior spaces of the existing structure remain untouched and new parts including external walls and dampers are added outside of the structure. Three frames having 3, 6 and 9 stories are modeled in SAP2000 software before and after seismic retrofit and responses of the system are investigated under the effect of seven earthquake records. Initially, different ratios of seismic weight of stories are presumed for slip forces of the dampers with a distribution based on given equations. The optimized capacity of dampers is obtained by investigating the average of maximum displacement, acceleration and base shear of the structure caused by earthquakes. For this optimized values, maximum inter-story drifts and acceleration are obtained through numerical models. Results show that in 3, 6 and 9-story frames peak roof displacement decreased up to 80%. Maximum roof acceleration and base shear of the frames also decreased 46, 40 and 32% and 84, 67 and 65%, respectively for three building structures.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.339-347
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• 2022

Retrofitting in reinforced concrete structures has been one of the most important research topics in recent years. There are several methods for retrofitting RC moment-resisting frames. the most important of which is the use of steel bracing systems with yielding dampers. With a proper design of yielding dampers, the stiffness of RC frame systems can be increased to the required extent so that the ductility of the structure is not significantly reduced. In the present study, two experimental samples of a one-third scale RC moment-resisting frame were loaded in the laboratory. In these experiments, the retrofitting effect of RC frames was investigated using Non-uniform Slit Dampers (NSDs). Based on the experimental results of the samples, seismic parameters, i.e., stiffness, ductility, ultimate strength, strength reduction coefficient, and energy dissipation capacity, were compared. The results demonstrated that the retrofitted frame had very significant growth in terms of stiffness, ultimate strength, and energy dissipation capacity. Although the strength reduction factor and ductility decreased in the retrofitted sample. In general, the behavior of the frame with NSDs was evaluated better than the bare frame.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.59-69
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• 2022

The use of dampers is being considered a means to improve the seismic performance of buildings. It may take considerable time and effort to find an optimal design solution since repeated three-dimensional nonlinear time history analyses are required. Therefore, a preliminary design procedure for seismic retrofit using hysteretic dampers was proposed in this study. In the proposed procedure, the amount of retrofit (required number of dampers) is estimated from the capacity curve of the building before retrofit and allowable story drift of the building. In combining the capacity curves of the building and the dampers, the deformation demand for the dampers can be easily checked against their deformation capacity. The equations to transform the device displacement to roof displacement for the combination of capacity curves are developed. The proposed procedure was applied to the seismic retrofit design of sample buildings. The study found that the estimated capacity curve was very close to the actual capacity curve obtained from the pushover analysis, which can determine an appropriate configuration to meet the required seismic performance.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.301-314
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• 2007

The lever-type active multiple tuned mass dampers (LT-AMTMD), consisting of several lever-type active tuned mass dampers (LT-ATMD), is proposed in this paper to attenuate the vibrations of long-span bridges under the excitation directly acting on the structure, rather than through the base. With resorting to the derived analytical-expressions for the dynamic magnification factors of the LT-AMTMD structure system, the performance assessment then is conducted on the LT-AMTMD with the identical stiffness and damping coefficient but unequal mass. Numerical results indicate that the LT-AMTMD with the actuator set at the mass block can provide better effectiveness in reducing the vibrations of long-span bridges compared to the LT-AMTMD with the actuator set at other locations. An appealing feature of the LT-AMTMD with the actuator set at the mass block is that the static stretching of the spring may be freely adjusted in accordance with the practical requirements through changing the location of the support within the viable range while maintaining the same performance (including the same stroke displacement). Likewise, it is shown that the LT-AMTMD with the actuator set at the mass block can further ameliorate the performance of the lever-type multiple tuned mass dampers (LT-MTMD) and has higher effectiveness than a single lever-type active tuned mass damper (LT-ATMD). Therefore, the LT-AMTMD with the actuator set at the mass block may be a better means of suppressing the vibrations of long-span bridges with the consequence of not requiring the large static stretching of the spring and possessing a desirable robustness.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Seismic retrofitting of existing buildings and design of earth-quake resistant buildings are important issues associated with earthquake-prone zones. Use of metallic-yielding dampers as an energy dissipation system is an acceptable method for controlling damages in structures and improving their seismic performance. In this study, the optimal distribution of dampers for reducing the seismic response of steel frames with multi-degrees freedom is presented utilizing the uniform distribution of deformations. This has been done in a way that, the final configuration of dampers in the frames lead to minimum weight while satisfying the performance criteria. It is shown that such a structure has an optimum seismic performance, in which the maximum structure capacity is used. Then the genetic algorithm which is an evolutionary optimization method is used for optimal arrangement of the steel dampers in the structure. In continuation for specifying the optimal accurate response, the local search algorithm based on the gradient concept has been selected. In this research the introduced optimization methods are used for optimal retrofitting in the moment-resisting frame with inelastic behavior and initial weakness in design. Ultimately the optimal configuration of dampers over the height of building specified and by comparing the results of the uniform deformation method with those of the genetic algorithm, the validity of the uniform deformation method in terms of accuracy, Time Speed Optimization and the simplicity of the theory have been proven.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.611-631
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• 2012

The passive energy dissipation technology has been proven to be reliable and robust for recent practical applications. Various dampers or energy dissipation devices have been widely used in building structures for enhancing their performances during earthquakes, windstorm and other severe loading scenarios. This paper presents a simplified seismic design procedure for retrofitting earthquake-damaged frames with viscous dampers. With the scheme of designing the main frame and the supplemental viscous dampers respectively, the seismic analysis model of damped structure with viscous dampers and braces was studied. The specific analysis process was described and approach to parameter design of energy dissipation components was also proposed. The expected damping forces for damped frame were first obtained based on storey shear forces; and then they were optimized to meet different storey drift requirements. A retrofit project of a RC frame school building damaged in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake was introduced as a case study. This building was retrofitted by using viscous dampers designed through the simplified design procedure proposed in this paper. Based on the case study, it is concluded that this simplified design procedure can be effectively used to make seismic retrofit design of earthquake-damaged RC frames with viscous dampers, so as to achieve structural performance objectives under different earthquake risk levels.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.1001-1025
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• 2016

Building structures generally have inherent low damping capability and hence are vulnerable to seismic excitations. Control devices therefore play a useful role in providing safety to building structures subject to seismic events. In recent years semi-active dampers have gained considerable attention as structural control devices in the building construction industry. Magneto-rheological (MR) damper, a type of semi-active damper has proven to be effective in seismic mitigation of building structures. MR dampers contain a controllable MR fluid whose rheological properties vary rapidly with the applied magnetic field. Although some research has been carried out on the use of MR dampers in building structures, optimal design of MR damper and combined use of MR and passive dampers for real scale buildings has hardly been investigated. This paper investigates the use of MR dampers and incorporating MR-passive damper combinations in building structures in order to achieve acceptable levels of seismic performance. In order to do so, it first develops the MR damper model by integrating control algorithms commonly used in MR damper modelling. The developed MR damper is then integrated in to the seismically excited structure as a time domain function. Linear and nonlinear structure models are evaluated in real time scenarios. Analyses are conducted to investigate the influence of location and number of devices on the seismic performance of the building structure. The findings of this paper provide information towards the design and construction of earthquake safe buildings with optimally employed MR dampers and MR-passive damper combinations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.487-497
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• 2020

During the last few decades, fluid viscous dampers have been significantly improved in terms of performance and reliability. Viscous dampers dissipate the input energy into heat and the increased temperature may damage internal seals of the damper. As a result, thermal compensation is crucial for almost all fluid viscous dampers. In this study, while referring to the main working principles of the recently developed bypass viscous damper in Iran, a comprehensive case study is conducted on a RC building having diagonal braces equipped with such viscous dampers. Experimental results of a small-scale bypass viscous damper is presented and it is shown that the currently available simplified Maxwell models can simulate behavior of the bypass viscous damper with good accuracy. Using a case study, contribution of bypass viscous dampers to seismic behavior of structural and non-structural elements are investigated. A designed procedure is adopted to increase damping ratio of the building from 3% to 15%. In this way, reductions of 25% and 13% in the required concrete and steel rebar materials have been achieved. From nonlinear time history analyses, it is observed that bypass viscous dampers can greatly improve seismic behavior of structural elements and non-structural elements.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.303-313
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• 2020

Spacious experimental and numerical investigation has been conducted by researchers to increase the ductility and energy dissipation of concentrically braced frames. One of the most widely used strategies for increasing ductility and energy dissiption, is the use of energy-absorbing systems. In this regard, the cyclic behavior of a chevron bracing frame system equipped with multi-pipe dampers (CBF-MPD) was investigated through finite element method. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and improve the behavior of the CBF using MPDs. Three-dimensional models of the chevron brace frame were developed via nonlinear finite element method using ABAQUS software. Finite element models included the chevron brace frame and the chevron brace frame equipped with multi-pipe dampers. The chevron brace frame model was selected as the base model for comparing and evaluating the effects of multi-tube dampers. Finite element models were then analyzed under cyclic loading and nonlinear static methods. Validation of the results of the finite element method was performed against the test results. In parametric studies, the influence of the diameter parameter to the thickness (D/t) ratio of the pipe dampers was investigated. The results indicated that the shear capacity of the pipe damper has a significant influence on determining the bracing behavior. Also, the results show that the corresponding displacement with the maximum force in the CBF-MPD compared to the CBF, increased by an average of 2.72 equal. Also, the proper choice for the dimensions of the pipe dampers increased the ductility and energy absorption of the chevron brace frame.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.607-621
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• 2012

The Expo Culture Centre is one of the permanent buildings at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China. The main structure has an oval shape and consists of 36 radial cantilever steel trusses with different lengths and inner frames made of concrete-filled rectangular steel tube members. Tuned mass dampers are used to reduce the excessive vibrations of the sixth floor that are caused by human-induced resonance. A three-dimensional analytical model of the system is developed, and its main characteristics are established. A series of field tests are performed on the structure, and the test results show that the vertical vibration frequencies of most structural cantilevers are between 2.5 Hz and 3.5 Hz, which falls in the range of human-induced vibration. Twelve pairs of tuned mass dampers weighing 115 tons total were installed in the structure to suppress the vibration response of the system. These mass dampers were tuned to the vertical vibration frequency of the structure, which had the highest possibility of excitation. Test data obtained after the installation of the tuned mass dampers are used to evaluate their effectiveness for the reduction of the vibration acceleration. An analytical model of the structure is calibrated according to the measured dynamic characteristics. An analysis of the modified model is performed and the results show that when people walk normally, the structural vibration was low and the tuned mass dampers have no effect, but when people run at the structural vibration frequency, the tuned mass dampers can reduce the floor vibration acceleration by approximately 15%.