Cyclic loading test of reinforced concrete frames protected with brace-type friction dampers

Abstract

In this study, cyclic loading tests were conducted on reinforced concrete (RC) portal frames with brace-type friction dampers. The boundary conditions that could reproduce the axial forces exerted on the beams were adopted. To resist the axial force acting on the RC member, a damper connection method was employed by using steel inserted through the center of the RC member. The purpose of this study was to a) understand the behavior of the damper connection and the RC frame with brace-type friction dampers based on experimental tests and b) to confirm the effectiveness of the new connection method. According to the test results, the proposed connection method achieved effective damper connections in the RC frames. For the RC frame specimens with dampers, it was confirmed that the damper reached its sliding force and started to dissipate energy at an early stage with story drift ratios smaller than those at RC beam yielding. The welded part of the gusset plate and the steel inserted through the center of the RC beam were broken. When the welded part inside the beam broke and the axial deformation of the beam increased, the sliding displacement of the damper decreased. Therefore, a reliable jointing method of this part needs to be established.