Validation of hysteretic behavior and prediction of energy dissipation potential of aluminium shear yielding devices

Abstract

Metallic dampers are used to control the seismic vibration of civil structures through supplemental energy dissipation and damping thereby minimizing damages to the primary load-resisting elements. Shear yielding devices are one type of metallic dampers in which the hysteretic energy dissipation is achieved through the inelastic deformation of metallic plates under cyclic loading. This paper presents a numerical study to evaluate the hysteretic behavior of aluminum shear yielding devices (Al-SYDs) under cyclic loading. Finite element models of eighteen numbers of Al-SYDs have been developed in a computer software ABAQUS and are validated by comparing the predicted behavior with the past test results. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the influence of web aspect ratios, web slenderness ratios, grades of aluminum alloy, and position of vertical stiffeners on the hysteretic behavior, energy dissipation potential, and displacement ductility of Al-SYDs. The energy dissipation potential of these devices is found to be strongly dependent on the aspect ratio and slenderness ratio of web plates. A simplified expression has been proposed to estimate the hysteretic energy dissipation potential of Al-SYDs. Limiting values of panel aspect ratio and web slenderness ratio have been recommended for the design of Al-SYDs.