Experimental and numerical studies of an axial tension-compression corrugated steel plate damper

Abstract

Metallic dampers are widely used due to their satisfactory plastic energy dissipation, low price and convenient installation. In this study, an axial tension and compression corrugated steel plate damper (ATCCSPD) was proposed. According to the mechanical properties of the ATCCSPD, low-frequency cyclic loading tests and numerical verification of seven ATCCSPD specimens were designed and performed. Additionally, the test phenomena and failure modes of the ATCCSPD specimens were analysed, and seismic performance indices such as the hysteretic curve, skeleton curve, ductility and energy dissipation were obtained. Then, the impacts of the thickness of the corrugated web, the aspect ratio and the thickness of the flange on the seismic behaviour of the ATCCSPD specimens were investigated. The results demonstrated that the seven ATCCSPD specimens exhibited satisfactory ductility and energy dissipation capacity, and the hysteretic curves were stable and full. Overall, the ATCCSPD specimens exhibited axial tension and compression deformation, while the internal corrugated web exhibited pure shear deformation during the loading process. The web thickness and aspect ratio were the main factors affecting the bearing capacity and energy dissipation of the ATCCSPD specimens. The finite element software ABAQUS was used to simulate the ATCCSPD specimens, and shear damage was added to the nonlinear kinematic hardening constitutive model of steel, which could effectively simulate the failure process of the corresponding part after cracks formed in the ATCCSPD specimens. Finally, combined with the test results and the numerical results, the shear bearing capacity formula of the corrugated webs was fitted; then, the formula for calculating the tensile (compressive) bearing capacity of the ATCCSPD specimens was obtained by the superposition principle. By comparing the calculation results with the test results, it was found that the proposed formula was conservative and, hence, suitable for engineering applications.