Viscous Dampers Utilized at an Operating Electronic Facility for Reducing Seismic Risk

Abstract

Using supplemental energy dissipation devices into the structure to increase the damping ratio for reducing the responses of seismic activity has become more and more popular. This paper presents a case study of seismic retrofit strategy, utilizing a type of passive energy dissipation device, namely, the viscous damper, in order to make an ongoing chips produced facility resistant to seismic activity. The building in question was a chips produced facility belonging to a semiconductor manufacturing company. This was a double FAB where the structure system was divided into an island building and an RC shell. The retrofit involved installing 44 non-linear dampers between the island building and the RC shell. This was due to the significant differences in the fundamental vibration periods. This paper will present the rationale of making a decision on the parameters of the dampers to give the optimum retrofit strategy.