Cyclic testing of seismic dampers consisting of multiple energy absorbing steel plate clusters

Abstract

This paper focuses on a new type of seismic damper consisting of multiple Energy Absorbing Steel Plate (EASP) clusters. To investigate the inelastic behavior of the damper, three full-scale experimental specimens were designed and manufactured. The major test parameter varied in the experimental specimens was the EASP thickness. All the specimens were tested using the same cyclic loading protocol. It was found that all the experimental specimens exhibited the similar bilinear type of hysteretic behavior. None of the experimental specimens developed in-cycle strength degradation. The hysteretic curves of the experimental specimens were full and symmetric. The experimental investigation also demonstrated the post-earthquake replaceability of the EASP clusters in the damper. This paper further presents derivation of an analysis model for the proposed damper. Result comparisons show that the analysis model when used with a proper strain-stress relationship (which takes into account the steel cyclic hardening effect) can provide reasonable predictions for the backbone response of a single EASP, an EASP cluster or the damper. The analysis model can be used in future practice.