Seismic performance and design of steel frames protected with fluid viscous devices

摘要

The main aims of this study are: a) the development and validation of a finite element assembly reproducing the observed behaviour of PFV devices; b) the assessment of the improvement of the seismic response of steel frames equipped with PFV devices; c) the application of a simplified design procedure for PFV devices to a case study. Numerical models of a steel frame protected with PFV dissipative braces tested at the JRC Ispra were developed and verified comparing numerical results with experimental data derived from laboratory tests. The frames protected with PFV devices exhibited smaller interstory drifts, more uniform lateral displacement profiles and smaller story shear forces compared to the unprotected frame because of the energy dissipation provided by the PFV devices. An energy-based design procedure for PFV devices was applied to determine the damping properties of the dissipaters and the seismic response of a five-story steel frame was investigated. The effectiveness of the damper braces was also evaluated through a comparison with a traditional undamped bracing solution.