A reduced-order improved rational polynomial method for viscoelastically damped structures considering ambient temperature effect

Abstract

This study focuses on the development of a framework for the seismic analysis of viscoelastically damped structures to investigate the ambient temperature effect on seismic responses. The improved rational polynomial model is used to describe the temperature dependence of the complex stiffness of viscoelastic (VE) dampers. The free‐interface component mode synthesis method is employed to improve the computing efficiency. Numerical simulations of a 20-storey benchmark building with added VE dampers under historical earthquakes are presented to illustrate the ambient temperature effect. The results show that the proposed framework is feasible in the seismic analysis of viscoelastically damped structures considering ambient temperature effect. The floor displacement and interstory drift reductions decrease with the increase of the ambient temperature, while fluctuations of the floor acceleration and base shear reductions with the ambient temperature are complicated due to coupled influences of spectrum characteristics of the earthquake, dynamic characteristics of the structure, and temperature dependence of VE dampers. The VE damper with a strong temperature dependence may not be effective in reducing acceleration responses and base shear of structures under specific earthquakes at high and low ambient temperatures.