Self-centering dual rocking core system with viscous dampers in additional rocking sections

Abstract

To mitigate the high mode effects and reduce the force requirements of the structural members in the multi-story self-centering dual rocking core (SDRC) system, this paper proposes the multiple self-centering dual rocking core system with viscous dampers in additional rocking sections (MSDRCV system). The sketch and ideal working mechanisms of the MSDRCV system are interpreted. The additional rocking sections are set to decrease the force requirements of structural members and viscous dampers are included to mitigate high mode responses of the additional rocking sections, introducing seismic performance enhancement. Comparative analyses on a 9-story MSDRCV system with viscous dampers in rocking sections, a 9-story multiple self-centering dual rocking core system without viscous dampers in rocking sections (MSDRC system) and a 9-story SDRC system were carried out. The MSDRCV and MSDRC system can realize the reduction of the force demands in structural members in contrast to the SDRC system. Nevertheless, the high mode responses caused the uncontrollable displacement concentration in the MSDRC system and hence aggravated the seismic performance under rare seismic events. The analysis results in the frequency domain confirmed that the viscous dampers in the MSDRCV system can efficiently control the high-mode responses. The effects of the design parameters of the viscous dampers on the peak responses of the MSDRCV systems were comprehensively studied via parametric analyses. The results offer guidance for the viscous dampers design.