Abstract
Abstract The effectiveness of seismic dampers to improve the lateral performance of timber structures may be heavily diminished if restrictive lateral drift limits as set by building codes, governs the design of the structure. This paper presents an innovative approach to improve the performance of seismic dampers installed in stiff wood-frame shear walls. U-Shape Flexural Plate dampers with a novel internal restraint system, were installed in a 4880x2475 mm wood-frame shear wall with an Eccentric Lever-Arm System which aimed at amplifying the displacements by transferring them from the shear wall to the dampers. Cyclic tests were conducted to four specimens. Initial test results showed that the presented amplifying system suffered concentrated losses of stiffness at some connections joints reducing its real efficiency. The loss of displacement transmission to dampers was retrofitted, and the results showed a great benefit in terms of resilience for the damped shear wall in contrast with unprotected ones. It was found that this approach provides a feasible solution to enhance the lateral performance of wood-frame structures.
Highlights
Supplemental energy dissipation systems have gained ground in the last two decades among wood-frame structures since these seismic protection systems allow reducing the structural response under lateral loads by providing additional means to absorb the kinetic energy induced by earthquakes
This paper presents a discussion about the use and application of seismic dissipation devices coupled to displacement amplification systems for wood-frame shear walls, where the amplification system is an interesting mechanism added up to the shear wall in order to improve the performance of the damper
This paper presents the results of an investigation aimed at developing and adapting typical seismic protection devices to wood-frame shear walls
Summary
Supplemental energy dissipation systems have gained ground in the last two decades among wood-frame structures since these seismic protection systems allow reducing the structural response under lateral loads by providing additional means to absorb the kinetic energy induced by earthquakes. This leads to the need to employ certain mechanisms that amplify the low amplitude deformations induced by lateral movements of rigid structures This concept involves installing the so-called Amplification Mechanisms (AM) at the shear wall, and connecting the dampers to these AMs, which have a geometry such that during lateral deformations the relative displacements of the wall are amplified and transferred directly to the dissipator, generating in the latter enough deformation to guarantee that it provides an adequate level of damping to the shear wall. We provide a background overview of the use of energy dissipators in wood-frame shear walls This aims at introducing the disadvantages of their application in rigid structures, to subsequently highlight the relevance of using displacement amplification mechanisms to improve the performance of the dampers within the shear wall.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
