Study on energy dissipation performance of low-yield-point steel shear panel dampers

Abstract

To investigate the energy dissipation performance of low-yield-point steel shear panel dampers (LSSPD), the eleven full-scale LSSPD specimens were designed and tested. By conducting quasi-static cyclic tests and numerical simulations, the influence of shear plate aspect ratios, flange plate thickness, numbers and layout of stiffeners on the failure modes for energy dissipation performance of LSSPD have been investigated. The results indicate that: The energy-dissipating capacity of the damper is positively correlated with the shear plate's cross-sectional area. Increasing the flange plate thickness can improve the bearing capacity and energy dissipation of LSSPD, but with a limit. The stiffeners can enhance the ultimate bearing capacity of the damper. A single stiffener in both horizontal and vertical directions effectively controls the out-of-plane buckling deformation of the shear plate. It achieves a damper with a full hysteretic curve and a high energy dissipation capacity. However, the arrangement of stiffeners on different sides will decrease the ultimate bearing capacity of the damper. Through finite element supplementary analysis, it is recommended to select the shear plate aspect ratio between 20 and 41, and the flange restraint coefficient βf should not be <10 for damper design. Meanwhile, limiting the stiffener restraint coefficient βs within 45 is recommended to achieve better energy dissipation performance for low-yield-point dampers.