Comparative study on a single-story RCC frame with large and small-scale magnetorheological damper subjected to seismic excitation

Abstract

The magnetorheological fluid damper (MRD) is a commonly employed semi-active damping mechanism. The utilisation of this technology has the potential to mitigate the impact of natural hazards on structures, owing to its crucial ability to dissipate energy and its minimal energy consumption. This study aims to compare the performance of a reduced-scale reinforced concrete (RCC) frame with a large MR damper (MRD) attached diagonally, to that of an RCC frame with a smaller-scale MRD attached at different locations. The experimental evaluation of two frames was conducted utilising El-Centro time history data, which was obtained from MTS. The efficacy of the small-scale MRD was also assessed through the El Centro seismic loading before integrating to the RCC frame. Subsequently, it was integrated with the frame and exhibited effective performance in mitigating seismic excitation. The maximum force generated was measured at 2.03kN, accompanied by a notable reduction in displacement of 13.24%. The frame equipped with a diagonal damper directly installed at the beam-column joint exhibits load-carrying capacities that are 12.32% and 19.77% lower than those of the frame equipped with a single and double damper, respectively, positioned at a distance of L/3 from the joint. In comparison to a diagonally placed large damper, the implementation of a small-scale magnetorheological damper (MRD) resulted in a reduction of displacements by 7.99% and 17.59% for single and double MRD configurations installed on the frame, respectively. However, this implementation also led to an increase in forces and alterations in crack patterns. The experimental findings indicate that the inclusion of a substantial quantity of smaller MRD can be a viable approach to mitigating structural responses in regions prone to seismic activity, while still maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the structure.